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Offered languages
- English
- Spanish
If you are passionate about football, with this tour you can learn first hand all the secrets that hide the sport in Bilbao and its surroundings: the house where 'Pichichi' was born, the first sports newspaper in Spain, the 'alirón', the barge... and much more!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We will meet outside the restaurant Peña Athletic del Casco Viejo. The guide will carry a blue notebook.
We will finish the tour next to San Mamés Stadium
Itinerary
-
1
We will observe the house where Rafael Moreno 'Pichichi' was born, learn about his career and reflect on his contribution to the professionalism of football in Spain
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
We will locate the old Café Donostiarra, above which the first Athletic Club headquarters was installed in 1901. In addition, this will allow us to discuss the date of incorporation of the club.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3Antxon Deunaren Eliza
We will know the history and evolution of both the Church and the Bridge of San Anton, which because of their historical importance appear on the shield of the Athletic Club. We will also analyze other elements and symbols that appear on the shields of many other Biscayan teams.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
4
We will locate the location of the old Salon Vizcaya, a performance hall in which, according to legend, the expression 'sing the alirón' emerged, used in Spain to refer to the conquest of a League title.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
We will know the old site of the Café Lyon d'Or, prominent place in the many intellectuals, both from the city and outside, installed their talks at the beginning of the 20th century. We will evoke the figure of one of those talkers, Jacinto Miquelarena, and his role in the consolidation of sports journalism in Spain as director of the newspaper Excelsior, which began publication in 1924.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6
We will locate the old Café García, where meetings prior to the legal constitution of the Athletic Club were held throughout 1901.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
We will stop by the statue of Sabino Arana to inquire about the origin of Basque nationalism, which coincides with the arrival of industrialization and football in the region. We will also analyze the different positions (from rejection to propaganda) that Basque nationalism had with regard to football during the early years of the 20th century.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
We will observe the former site of the Zamacois Gymnasium, one of the pioneering centers in gymnastics practice in the city, and reflect on the relationship of some of its members with the Athletic Club.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9Plaza de Jado
We will pay attention to the fountain of Plaza de Jado, whose spout is a representation of the Coronation Cup, the first national football competition played in Spain. We will review the details of that Coronation Cup of 1902, as well as the participation of Vizcaya FC, which ended up proclaimed champions.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10
We will cross, next to the Guggenheim Museum, the surroundings of the old camp of the English, scene of many of the first football matches held in Bilbao at the end of the 19th century. We will reflect on the role of the British sailors and coaches who brought football to the region and created the city’s first organized sports club, the Nervion Shipyard Athlete Club, and we will cite some other fields used during the early years of football.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
We will walk along the shore of the estuary of Bilbao, which the Athletic Club sails aboard a barge whenever it conquers any title. We will also remember the history of the Acero Club de Olabeaga, which was the first club to celebrate a title with a barge ride.
Admission ticket free -
11
We will look outside the Casa de la Misericordia in Bilbao and analyze its relationship with the name of the stadium of San Mamés and the identification of the Athletic Club with the lions.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
12
We will examine the exterior of San Mamés Stadium, commenting on some of its architectural curiosities while remembering all the fields used by the Athletic Club before settling in the old San Mamés.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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