Euskal Museoa, Ethnographic museum in Old Quarter, Bilbao, Spain
The Euskal Museoa is an ethnographic museum in Bilbao's Old Quarter displaying traditional fishing nets, model boats, woodcutters' axes, sheep bells, and navigational instruments. These objects tell the story of Basque maritime traditions and the daily work of coastal communities.
The museum was established in 1921 and occupies a Baroque building that served as a Jesuit college starting in the 17th century. The building reflects the area's transformation from a religious education center to a public cultural institution.
The collection displays black and white photographs by Eulalia Abaitua Allende-Salazar showing fishmongers, pastoral workers, and dock laborers from the early 20th century. These images capture everyday life in Bilbao's port area and the people who shaped its waterfront.
The museum is located at Plaza Miguel Unamuno 4 in the Old Quarter and provides information in Spanish and Basque with English handouts available. Plan to spend a comfortable amount of time exploring the different sections without feeling rushed.
The museum houses the Mikeldi Idol, a zoomorphic sandstone sculpture from the Iron Age that represents pre-Christian beliefs. This rare artifact offers insight into the spiritual world of the ancient inhabitants of the region.
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