Portugalete

Portugalete
—  Municipality  —
Noble Villa de Portugalete
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Portugalete in Biscay.
Portugalete Location in Spain
Coordinates: 43°19′10″N 3°1′10″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	País Vasco
Province	Biscay
Comarca	Greater Bilbao
Founded	1322
Government
• Alcalde	Mikel Torres (PSE-EE)
Area
• Total	3.21 km2 (1.24 sq mi)
Elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	48,205
• Density	15,017/km2 (38,890/sq mi)
Demonym	Portugalujo/a, Jarrillero/a
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	48920
Official language(s)	Basque and spanish
Website	Official website

Portugalete is a town lying to the west of Bilbao in the province of Biscay in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.

The town has 51,066 inhabitants (2001 census) and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. It is located at the mouth of the Estuary of Bilbao, on the left bank. Its land area is only 3.21 km², resulting in a population density of 15,908.4 persons/km², the fifth-most densely populated municipality in Spain (following Mislata, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Benetússer, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet).

In 1300 Portugalete became the main competitor port for Bilbao, but it lost its predominant position in 1511 when the trade privileges were granted to the Port of Bilbao instead of Portugalete.

The transporter bridge

Areeta and the "Puente Colgante" from Portugalete.

The city is famously known for the Vizcaya Bridge, a transporter bridge. The car ferry is suspended from a frame by wires attached to wheels on tracks above the cabin and moves from one side of the River Nervión to the other (Getxo) via a traction system.

This bridge was declared a World Heritage Site on July 13, 2006.

Events and festivals

San Roque Festivals - 16 August

They officially last four days, from August 14 until August 17, the main festivities occurring on August 15 and August 16, "San Roque" day. "La Diana Portugaluja" is the song that is sung in the morning August 15, eve of "San Roque" day. "Los Portugalujos", the people of Portugalete meet up in the Town Hall square singing the song, in order to liven up the festival.

Other monuments

Other important monuments in Portugalete include the 15th century Basílica of Santa María, Salazar's Tower, and the town hall in addition to the old medieval arches and streets in the older part of the city.

External links

• Official website (in Basque and Spanish)
• PORTUGALETE in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (Spanish)
  

  

  Portugalete town hall.