Bilbao Florist
Florist Bilbao Flower Shop

View of the region from Rontegi Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Greater Bilbao is the fifth most populated metropolitan area in Spain with 950,155 inhabitants in 2007 (Bilbao the municipality, has 354,145 residents). Almost 80% of the population of Biscay and 43% of the population of the Basque Country is concentrated in the Greater Bilbao area.
On a wider sense, other towns outside the formal boundaries of Greater Bilbao and Biscay can be considered part of the metropolitan area because of their intense relationship with Greater Bilbao in terms of transport, economy and leisure activities. These towns include Mungia, Lemoa, Amorebieta, Durango in Biscay; Laudio in Alava and Castro Urdiales in Cantabria. The area is structured into different zones: * The city of Bilbao: The main business and services hub of the metropolitan area, with roughly 40% of its population.
* The left bank: Traditionally an industrial, port, and manufacturing zone. It includes Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete or Santurce.
* The right bank: A residential area, including Erandio, Leioa, and the more afluent Getxo,.
* The mining zone, where the main iron ore resources were located: Muskiz, Gallarta, Ortuella
* Txoriherri, wide expansion zone where the international airport and the University of the Basque Country are located.
* Hego Uribe, including Basauri, Galdakao or Arrigorriaga.
* Uribe-Kosta: the coastal area north of Getxo is being integrated into the metropolitan area in the recent years, with the development of low density residential areas connected by the metro.