A Visit to the Portugalete Suspension Bridge

Gone are the days when Bilbao, excessively industrialized, gave the impression of being a sad and gray city, similar to those subjective scenarios where the lack of color created, in the imagination of writers like Michael Ende, the ideal, overwhelming atmosphere that, years ago, left its mark on the environmentalist spirit of young and old alike with his bestselling novel, "Momo."

After this impressive facelift, which transformed Bilbao and its surroundings from the comparatively ugly duckling they had been until then, into the extraordinary white swan they are today, it would be ungrateful not to invite you to take a walk through a place that, refurbished, offers interesting views: the Portugalete Suspension Bridge.

The modernization of the city, which also includes a splendid subway that runs along the estuary and drops off travelers at historic and memorable locations, has left behind, in addition to emblematic elements such as the Guggenheim Museum and the Calatrava Bridge, other surprising features, such as the ferry, which, through this engineering colossus, facilitates the movement of people and vehicles on both sides of the estuary, gaining particular popularity among the towns of Getxo and Portugalete.

Although officially known as the Vizcaya Bridge, it is better known as the Hanging Bridge or the Portugalete Hanging Bridge. Its first construction took place in the 19th century, when a means of connecting both banks and facilitating access to the numerous spas became necessary. At that time, these spas were primarily aimed at the bourgeoisie and the numerous tourists who came, attracted both by its privileged location and the health benefits it offered.

After many setbacks, including those resulting from the vicissitudes of a bloody conflict such as the Civil War, the Suspension Bridge was favored with major renovations, including modern elevators to access its towers, as well as a new gondola and modernized access points. These works, completed in the late 1990s, give it the imposing appearance it has today.

Furthermore, we must also consider the functional importance of this true feat of engineering, as its mediation saves travelers from having to make a twenty-kilometer detour by road, thus continuing to serve as an exceptional means of transport, connecting Getxo with Portugalete in a matter of minutes.

Interestingly, the Portugalete Suspension Bridge was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006, which, apart from the benefits it brings, also gives it another special feature.

NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs, as well as the video that illustrates it, are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my Copyright.

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