Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Background

The museum stands in the Abando district of Bilbao, in the province of Biscay in Spain's Basque Country, on the bank of the Nervión. It was designed by the Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, and its exterior combines glass, titanium and limestone; its roughly 33,000 titanium plates shimmer as the light changes. Inside, the floors are arranged around the central atrium, which Gehry called "the Flower" because of its shape. Richard Serra's group of weathering-steel sculptures, "The Matter of Time", is the museum's only permanent exhibition; Jeff Koons' "Puppy" stands in front of the museum, and his "Tulips" is another of its well-known works. The museum was opened on 18 October 1997 by King Juan Carlos I of Spain and belongs to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation's network of museums. It was part of a plan to regenerate Bilbao's old port district, and the urban transformation it triggered later became known as the "Bilbao effect"; some critics also use the term to criticise the gentrification that urban renewal brings.

Local customs

• Walk along the riverside promenade and watch the titanium panels reflect the changing light
• go inside to see Serra's huge weathering-steel sculptures
• then explore the Abando area and the riverside streets.

Travel tips

• Tickets and opening hours are subject to the official website, and booking online in advance is recommended
• exhibitions rotate frequently, so check the current special exhibitions before you go
• half a day is a comfortable amount of time.
• Bilbao's tram has a Guggenheim stop, and you can also walk along the river from the old town
• if you drive, park in the surrounding car parks, following local directions. The museum can be visited all year: spring and autumn are mild, summer is the busiest season, and winter is relatively quiet.