In addition to the cuisine, sangria, and siestas, another favorite of Spain is its diverse architecture. Spanning over 2,000 years, one can see Roman architecture in the Aqueduct of Segovia, the Moorish influenced Mudejar style of Southern Spain, Gothic architechture apparent in the cathedrals of Northern Spain, and the Art Nouveau of Antoni Gaudi througot Barcelona. Most recent is the famous Frank Gehry designed Guggenheim in Bilbao.
Although I don't remember much about the exhibits at the museum at the time of my visit, I remember being most impressed by the contemporary architecture of the museum itself. The curves of the building and the simplistic yet complicated pieces forming the various sides caught the light and seemed to give new life to the city. The Guggenheim Bilbao was completed in 1997 and helped revitalize the struggling port of Bilbao.
Also of note and commonly photographed is Puppy, located just outside the entrance. This living piece of art uses florals and greens and is ever changing with the seasons.
The city itself is quite charming and was in the midst of change when I visited - I would love to see what it's like now. It remains the port of the Basque Country of Spain and is also the most populous city. The Basque language is still widely spoken, and due to government regulation, all signs and printed material must appear in both Basque (known as Euskara in the Basque langauge), and Spanish. The Basque must always appear first and more prominent. Doesn't help to learn a few niceties in Euskara if you ever visit.
Date of Completion: December 2002
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