The Museo Maritimo Ría de Bilbao

Another place you can visit in order to learn more about Basque culture is the Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum, which provides you with a unique look at the thrilling world of the sea via the Bilbao Estuary and Port. The aim of the Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum is to bring the sea and the nautical world to its visitors. This is done by means of a privileged viewpoint that will immerse visitors and make them be part of the history of the Ría de Bilbao. This space is located on the former site of the outbuildings of the Euskalduna shipyard, on the left bank of the Bilbao estuary. The Bilbao Estuary has undergone a spectacular change in the last few years. It has once more become a main attraction, this time as a space for leisure and recreation. As well as being a vibrant and invigorating element of the city and region, it also aims to preserve and spread the history, culture and identity of the men and women who have lived on and near the Bilbao Estuary, which is inextricably bound to maritime tradition.

A visit to the museum is divided into two sections: the exterior and the interior. The latter, covering 7,000 square metres, features exceptional architecture. The facility, located under the roundabout of the Euskalduna Bridge, is exemplary in its adaptation to the surroundings. The columns support the road, which serves as the roof of this unique structure. The exhibition space is divided into three main areas that comprise the physical evolution of the Ría over time, as well as the activities and purposes that it has promoted and become a location for. The themes presented in these three areas are the following: the Ría as a seaport; the Ría as a market and factory; and, the Ría as a shipyard.

Some of the most interesting items at the museum include boats belonging to Bilbao shipping companies, models of vessels built in the city`s most emblematic shipyards, like the Nervión and the Euskalduna, the watercolour paintings of Esteban Bermejo and the lifeline system of marine rescue, which was donated by the Arriluze Red Cross Sea Rescue Station.

Come on board with us!