What is there to do in Bilbao

Asks Meltdown

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A. Bilbao is the oldest city in the Basque Country of Spain, but until recently it was primarily known as a ferry port and industrial town. Since the world famous Museo Guggenheim de Arte Contemporaneo opened up, it is now on every tourist map.

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Q. So what is so impressive about the Guggenheim

A. It is simply the largest art gallery in the world and one of the most amazing buildings you're ever likely to see! Many art and architecture critics have been so excited about its structure that 'see it before you die' is fast becoming its slogan. The building was designed by the US architect Frank Gehry, and uses a mixture of glass and titanium for a structure that was inspired by the anatomy of the fish and the hull of a boat. It has amazing floating walkways�that connect its enormous hanger-size chambers that are full of pieces of contemporary art. It is built on a 32,500 square metre site - and the fact that it is standing is a feat in itself, as it is not positioned on flat land.

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On one side it runs down to the waterside of the Rio Nervi�n (and is actually 16 metres below the level of the rest of the city) and is pierced in one side by a massive road�- the Puente de La Salve - which literally runs through it.

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Inside, to compensate for the difference in height between the level of the river and the level of the city centre, descending flights of stairs have been incorporated into the design, and take pedestrians down into the museum hall from street level. The use of different levels was an inspired response by Gehry and most importantly allowed such a huge building (that is more than 50 metres high) to slot into the landscape without it having to tower over neighbouring buildings, but it certainly doesn't blend in!

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The building combines many shapes and materials e.g. limestone contrasts with titanium, and many of its walls are made of glass giving the building an immense sense of light and transparency, but at the same time they protect the art inside from heat and radiation.

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Q. Does the Guggenheim have any other striking features

A.�In the middle of the museum is a fantastic atrium with a metal flower skylight, which allows a great stream of light to illuminate the space. The exhibition galleries are organized on three levels around the central atrium and are connected by a system of curving walkways suspended from the roof, glass elevators and stair turrets. It has been promoted as 'a metaphorical city, where the panels of glass that cover the elevator-well evoke the scales of a fish that leaps and spins, the walkways that climb the interior

walls are like vertical motorways.'

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Q. How many galleries does it house

A. It houses 19 galleries of exhibition space, ten of these are orthogonal in shape and can be identified from the outside by their stone finishes, the remaining nine are more irregularly shaped and can be identified from the outside by their titanium covering. Large-scale artworks are housed in an exceptional 30 metre wide, 130 metre long gallery free of columns and with flooring specially prepared to cope with the comings and going of visitors and museum staff, as well as the sheer weight of the works on display there.

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Q. Is all the art brand new, or are there any famous names

A. Serra, Braque, Kandinsky, Picasso and Warhol are all featured, together with newer artists. Current exhibitions include shows by Giorgio Armani (runs until 2 September); the Panza Collection until January 2002; the Worlds of Nam June Paik (until 23 September); Jeff Koons (until January 2002); the Modern City (until January 2002) and Louise Bourgeois (until January 2002).

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Q. What are its opening hours

A. The Guggenheim opens from 10am to 8pm (closed on Mondays). In July and August the museum is open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.

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Q. How would I contact the museum

A.� You can check out their website at

http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/ingles/home.htm�or phone its information desk on 00 34 94 435 90 80, Guided Tours reservations: (+34) 94 435 90 90 (Free guided tours are offered in Basque, Spanish and English.); Group Admission: 00 34 94 435 90 23 and Education: 00 34 94 435 90 67.

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Q. Is there anything else to do in Bilbao, apart from visit the Guggenheim

A. Although still a bit of an industrial eyesore, Bilbao has started a rejuvenation programme that will hopefully make the city a lot more attractive to all the visitors it is attracting. It has incredible restaurants (good food is really appreciated here), bars and cafes.

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The old town (Casco Viejo) area on the eastern bank of the R�o Nervi�n is a great area to visit and is home to the Catedral de Santiago in all its Gothic splendour, the Teatro Arriaga and the arcaded Plaza Nueva. Another art museum, the Museo de Bellas Artes (housing works by Goya and El Greco) is located very close to the Guggenheim and is well worth a visit if you�haven't had too much of art galleries.

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Since the Guggenheim opened, other new buildings have followed suit and new and exciting architecture is now filling the skyline. A new metro system (designed by Sir Norman Foster) is already running and new bridges are cropping up everywhere. Bilbao airport also boasts a brand new terminal called La Palmoma (The Dove) which is an amazing space age building full of glass and steel.

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Shopping is also a big pull here and you can really find some great bargains�most of the shops sell designer gear at half the UK price, so you're in for a treat if you visit Zara, Mango, DKNY, Camper, Armand Basi and Adolpho Dominguez.

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Q. When is the best time to visit

A.� If you ask a local they'll tell you it rains all year round, and that is why Bilbao is surrounded by so much green vegetation, so weather wise it doesn't matter when you visit, although spring and summer are the most pleasant months. If you visit in August you'll experience the fiesta, which starts on 15 August every year and is very enjoyable.

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By Karen Anderson