Santurtzi is just a short walk away from the Bizkaia Bridge, the world’s oldest transporter bridge, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
The pleasant walk to the bridge along the Reina Victoria Promenade will take you past the marina, the sports complex, the sculptures museum and the majestic Oriol Palace, with spectacular views out over the Abra Bay.
On the way, you will find one of the last remaining traditional wooden fishing boats on our coasts: AGURTZA FISHING BOAT. Built at Murelaga shipyard in Lekeitio, this real life basque coastal fishing boat spent twenty years in the second half of the 20th century fishing in the Bay of Biscay. During that time it witnessed the abundance of fish in the waters off our coast. In addition to tuna, its wooden holds were once brimming with sardines, different types of mackerel and anchovies; now, it´s your turn to discover the world of Basque fishermen, “ arrantzaleak”, by exploring this jewel of our heritage, an example of those boats that once crowded the quayside in Santurtzi. During the scheduled visits throughout the year we will get to know the life of the fishermen on board and the different fishing gears. Welcome to Agurtza!
Santurtzi merges almost seamlessly into the town of Portugalete, with its famous "Bizkaia Bridge". This colossal structure, built in 1893, was designed by architect Alberto de Palacio, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel. The idea was to link the two sides of the river without obstructing ship traffic, and this is why the bridge is 63 metres high. The gondola makes the crossing to the other side in a couple of minutes. Visitors also have the alternative of taking a scenic lift to the top of the bridge and walking across the wooden footbridge, affording spectacular views.