Barakaldo, Industrial municipality in Greater Bilbao, Spain
Barakaldo sits on the left bank of the Bilbao estuary and forms a continuous settlement with several neighborhoods stretching upstream along the waterway. The municipality borders several towns in the metropolitan area and is bounded by the river and gentle hills.
The municipality grew rapidly between the late 19th and early 20th centuries through the construction of ironworks and industrial plants along the riverbank. In the following decades the town shifted from a rural core to a dense working district with numerous factories.
The town draws its name from Basque origins and now forms a busy hub on the left bank of the Nervión river. Visitors walking through the streets encounter sculptures and squares that reflect the shift from factory town to contemporary residential area.
Several metro stations and suburban trains connect the town to Bilbao and neighboring municipalities within a few minutes. Local buses run regularly through the neighborhoods and make it easy to move around within the municipal area.
The exhibition center along the riverbank hosts events and trade fairs throughout the year and regularly transforms the town's appearance. In the former industrial districts parks and residential areas have emerged, now forming quiet pockets among the older factory buildings.
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