Bilbao Photo Gallery - Bizkaia "Hanging" Bridge

Located west of the city at the mouth of the Ibaizabal estuary, this 45m-high bridge was the world's first to carry people and traffic on a suspended gondola across the river. It was designed by Basque architect Alberto de Palacio and construction started in 1887. The bridge was inaugurated in July 1893 and the transporting gondola still operates today, moving both pedestrians and vehicles frequently between Portugalete and Getxo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site as an outstanding construction from the Industrial Revolution and its iron architecture. I took metro line 2 to Portugalete from the city centre and walked downhill towards the waterfront to reach the bridge. This bridge is unique because there is no deck for pedestrians and vehicles to cross the river. Instead, they are placed on a gondola that is held by cables to a mechanical trolley that runs on the crossbeam above to move to the other side of the river. Pedestrians pay before boarding while vehicles drive up first and a staff will collect the toll as the gondola moves. Visitors, however, can pay 11 euros to access the top deck, which has a wooden platform across the bridge's length for a great view and to watch the mechanical trolley move the gondola below. Don't go up if you have a fear of heights. You are completely exposed to the wind and as the trolley rumbles across, you will feel the whole bridge structure vibrate. You can also clearly see the river below in the gaps between the wood planks. But it is a very nice experience to see this unique structure. Satisfied, I headed back to the city from Areeta station on line 1 on the other side of the river.