Spain — Bilbao
The big city of the Basque region (Euskal Herria), Bilbao was a great, verdant, mountainous city. City center is relatively flat, and the river Nervión runs through it and divides city center from the Old Town (Casca Vieja), which sits at the foot of some truly steep neighborhoods. There are many many many steps, but also public elevators that can whisk you up at any time.
Formerly an industrial working town, Bilbao has in the past few decades transformed itself into a post-industrial artsy destination. The Guggenhiem museum, designed by Frank Gehry, is the centerpiece of the transformation, but the hustle of the 7 streets, the off-the-beaten path mountain neighborhoods, and the stunning landscape backdrops made this our favorite city. Plus, the rain wasn't bad that week.
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