Page 126 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

124  NOR THERN SP AIN

Bilbao: Museo Guggenheim

The Museo Guggenheim Bilbao is the jewel in the city’s
cultural crown. The building itself is a star attraction: a mind-
boggling array of silvery curves by the American architect
Frank Gehry, which are alleged to resemble a ship or a
flower. The Guggenheim Bilbao’s collection represents an
intriguingly broad spectrum of modern and contemporary
art, and includes works by Abstract Impressionists such as
Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko. The museum’s
programme combines temporary exhibitions with shows
from the permanent collections of the Guggenheim museums
in New York and Venice.
View from the City
Approaching along the Calle de
Iparraguirre, the Guggenheim
Bilbao stands out amid
traditional buildings.

KEY
1 The Matter of Time, by 5 Roofscape is reminiscent of 0 Tall Tree and the Eye
sculptor, Richard Serra, was a ship, with prow-like points and by Anish Kapoor.
created in hot-rolled steel. metallic material.
It is over 30 m (100 ft) long. q Yves Klein’s Fire Fountain
6 Second-floor balcony consists of five fountains
2 Nerua is the museum’s emitting sharp bursts of fire.
Michelin-starred restaurant. 7 Puppy, by American artist
Jeff Koons, is a 13-m (43-ft) West w Louise Bourgeois’
3 The Puente de la Salve was Highland terrier with a coat of sculpture Maman is a 9-m
incor porated into the design flowers watered by an internal (30-ft) high tribute to the
of the building, which extends irrigation system. It has become artist’s mother.
underneath it. a favourite icon of the city. e Fujiko Nakaya’s F.O.G.
4 The tower, on the far side 8 Café sculpture is an atmospheric
of the bridge, was designed fog sculpture typical of this
to resemble a sail. It is not 9 Water garden beside Japanese artist’s work.
an exhibition space. the River Nervión
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp563–4 and pp585–6

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