A 958-meter walk with slopes . It's important to complete this route in the order indicated, as it leads along escalators. However, there are some small inclines between them, each 18%. The descent gradient averages 15% with a 21% incline.
The Historic Center was declared a Monumental Site in 1996 and boasts historic landmarks. It consists of three streets, parallel and perpendicular to the estuary, that formed the old medieval town: Coscojales, Víctor Chávarri, popularly known as Calle del Medio, and Calle Santa María. Highlights include steep slopes and cobblestone paving, made with stones called "rebollos," flat stone sides, and a waterfall along the streets' central axis. This system improved urban viability in the mid-15th century.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE:
The tour begins at the north or rear facade of the Gran Hotel Puente Colgante, formerly the Manuel Calvo Palace.
We leave the estuary behind us and walk 25 meters. Five meters to the right, we cross the first zebra crossing, and after walking 8 meters to the left, we reach Casilda Iturrizar Street, popularly known as "New Street." Its steep slope, which connects the old Portugalete with the commercial and innovative one, becomes gentler thanks to the escalators, a sign of Portugalete's ongoing renewal.
We'll soon hear the escalators, as they're 35 meters away. We'll need to take the first four of the seven sections that end at General Castaños Street.
After finishing the fourth ramp and enjoying the Santa Clara building (orange dot 1 ), we turn right to take the zebra crossing marked with a tactile surface. We cross and head left to the next zebra crossing, which we will also cross (and which is also marked with a tactile surface), entering the historic center.
The old town is pedestrianized. We'll walk through it from side to side, roughly parallel to the estuary, crossing its three streets and, after walking 200 meters, arriving at the Basilica ( point 2 in orange), which we'll find in front of us. We'll walk around it to fully appreciate its façade.
Facing the middle of the Basilica's north façade, we approach the viewing platform overlooking the estuary (orange point 3 ). From there, you can enjoy exceptional views of the estuary and the Bizkaia Bridge. This viewpoint has a small ramp on the right side.
If you have no mobility problems, you can descend from the viewpoint by taking the steps that border the Salazar Tower (orange point 4 ), going through the arch. Otherwise, return to the street you came in from, skirting the square where the sculpture of Lope Garcia de Salazar is located, and go down the first street on the right, Calle Santa María. From this street, you can access the Tower.
Afterwards, we return to Santa María Street down until we reach the square where the Town Hall is located (orange point 5 ).
After enjoying its façade, we make a 360-degree turn to the left to cross a passageway where small boats used to go down from the shipyards to the estuary.
The walk through the historic center ends by connecting with the pier promenade or enjoying the many bars and terraces in the area.
SOIL TYPE AND REST:
On Casilda Iturrizar Street, the floor is made of flat stone tiles and there are four escalators that overcome a 12% gradient with small inclines of 18%.
You then enter the historic center, where the paved road begins with the aforementioned holm oaks, flat stone sides, and a channel in the middle. It's recommended to walk on the right side, as the road narrows to the left.
After passing Plaza de la Ranchería, cross Víctor Chávarri Street, where you must cross the cobblestones and the central gutter. From there, the ground is uneventful, remaining either flat or asphalt, and in the plaza, with garbancillo tiles.
To access the viewpoint over the estuary, next to the Basilica, there is a step that can be climbed via a ramp on the right.
Santa María Street is still paved with a channel in the center and flat stone on the sides, and the passageway that passes underneath it at the end of the route is made of flat stone with a central channel.
Between points 1 and 2, there's a square with a few benches and bars with terraces. There are also benches around the basilica and at the viewing platform.
The following images show the surfaces and percentages of the slopes described in the text.
Click to watch or listen to a micro-video about the medieval village (1:28')