Portugalete

Portugalete is a coastal town on the left bank of the Bilbao estuary, in Bizkaia. Founded in 1322, it has been shaped throughout its history by its relationship with the sea and trade: for centuries it served as one of the gateway ports to Bilbao and a key point for the export of Castilian wool.

Its most recognisable landmark is the Bizkaia Bridge, inaugurated in 1893 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. Designed by Alberto de Palacio, it was the world's first transporter bridge with a metal structure, connecting Portugalete and Getxo via a gondola that crosses the estuary without interrupting river traffic. From its upper walkway, around 50 metres above the water, visitors take in wide views over the estuary and the Bay of Biscay.

The old town, declared a Monumental Complex in 1996, preserves the steep, narrow street layout of its medieval origins, with landmarks such as the 14th-century Torre Salazar and the Basílica de Santa María in Gothic-Renaissance style. The industrial transformation of the 19th century, which reshaped the entire left bank, is documented at RIALIA – Museum of Industry, whose collections from the main metalworking industries of the area trace the history of iron and manufacturing in Bizkaia.