Bilbao

Bilbao, one of the chief cities in Spain, and capital of the Basque province of Biscay or Bilbao, is situated on the Nervion, which is navigable up to the city, where it is crossed by four bridges. It is a commercial city, and in regular steam communication with London and Liverpool. It has shipbuilding yards and manufactures in iron, pottery, glass, paper, cotton, etc. For its steel it was famous in Elizabeth's time, when a rapier was called a "bilbo." It was founded in 1300 by Don Pedro Lopez de Haro, and suffered severely in the wars with France, who held it from 1808 to 1813. It withstood an attack in 1835 from Zumalacarreguy, and again in 1874 from the forces of Don Carlos. It has a cathedral and several convents, but its public buildings are of little note.