Description
Main port of the Spanish Basque Country, located on the Ria de Bilbao (formed by the Nervión River), with a strong maritime tradition linked to the iron and wool trade, and shipbuilding.
Year of Foundation or Oldest Source
The town was founded in 1300, but port activity in the estuary predates this. The Nautical School, the oldest in Spain, was founded in 1740.
Country (State or Region)
Spain (Basque Country)
Location
Bilbao, Biscay, along the Ria de Bilbao/Nervión.
Structuring
River/Estuarine port. Development occurred along the banks of the estuary. The Arenal area was an initial center of maritime activity and shipbuilding. It had a Consulate (regulatory mercantile institution). Structures such as quays and shipyards were developed over the centuries. Major modernization and expansion works towards the outer estuary occurred mainly after 1900.
Notes
Vital center for the export of Basque iron to Europe. Participated in the wool trade, although secondarily compared to Santander in the 16th century. Developed a powerful mercantile community from the 16th century. Home to the oldest nautical school in Spain, indicating the importance of maritime training. The Consulado de Bilbao regulated commercial and maritime activity.
Sources
DIALNET. **.; O'FLANAGAN, Patrick. Port cities of Atlantic Iberia, c. 1500-1900. London: Routledge, 2008.; OJEDA SAN MIGUEL, Ramón. El comercio marítimo de la villa de Bilbao en el comercio cantábrico del siglo XVI. Bidebarrieta, n. 26, p. 151-173, 2015.; PRIOTTI, Jean-Philippe. Bilbao y sus mercaderes en el siglo XVI. Génesis de un crecimiento. Bilbao: Diputación Foral de Bizkaia, 2005.; 2 PRIOTTI, Jean-Philippe. Producción y comercio del hierro vizcaíno entre 1500 y 1700. In: DUO, Gonzalo (coord.). Historia de Plentzia: dinámicas sociales s. XVI-XIX. Donostia-San Sebastián: Eusko Ikaskuntza, 2011. p. 15-32.; TORRES GOIRI, Manuel. Aproximación a la historia del salvamento de náufragos en el Puerto de Bilbao. Getxo: Edigetxo, 2000.; UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAÍS VASCO. La Escuela de Náutica de Bilbao desde su establecimiento en Deusto hasta su traslado a Portugalete. [s.d.].; VIVAS ZIARRUSTA, I.; LEKERIKABEASKOA GAZTAÑAGA, A. Una ciudad marítima: Donostia-San Sebastián. [s.d.].; ZABALA URIARTE, Aingeru. Mundo urbano y actividad mercantil. Bilbao 1700-1810. Bilbao: Bilbao Bizkaia Kutxa, 1994.; ZABALA URIARTE, Aingeru. El Consulado de Bilbao como fuente para el conocimiento de la actividad marítimo comercial del puerto de Bilbao en el siglo 3 XVII. Itsas Memoria: Revista de Estudios Marítimos del País Vasco, n. 4, p. 297-311, 2003.
