Bilbao is known all over the world for its main attraction – the incredible Guggenheim Museum. Many guidebooks include this building in the list of places to visit in Spain. But the capital of the proud and independent Basque Country is not reduced to a single museum, although quite outstanding. There are magnificent cathedrals, charming European streets, and picturesque neighborhoods with cozy squares.
The mysterious Basques still do not recognize themselves as Spaniards, believing that they live in a separate state. This self-awareness and identity seem to be floating in the air of Bilbao, forcing us to sympathize with the central authorities sitting in Madrid. What is the fact that the Basque language is not like any European and belongs to a completely different group.