Portugalete

Portugalete is a town lying to the west of Bilbao in the province of Biscay in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, northern Spain.

Portugalete (Portugaldeta)
Municipality
Noble Villa de Portugalete
Portugalete from Vizcaya Bridge
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Portugalete
Coordinates: 43°19′10″N 3°1′10″W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Biscay
Comarca	Greater Bilbao
Founded	1322
Government
• Alcalde	Mikel Torres Lorenzo (PSE-EE)
Area
• Total	3.21 km2 (1.24 sq mi)
Elevation	26 m (85 ft)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	45,826
• Density	14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Portugalujo/a, Jarrillero/a, Portulano/a
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	48920
Official language(s)	Basque and Spanish
Website	Official website

The town has 45,294 inhabitants as of 2021 and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. It is located at the mouth of the Estuary of Bilbao, on the left bank. Its land area is only 3.21 km², resulting in a population density of 15,908.4 persons/km², the fifth-most densely populated municipality in Spain (following Mislata, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Benetússer, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet). It was established in 1322 by María Díaz de Haro.^[2]

Etymology

Despite its name, it is not near the Spanish border with Portugal and its name is not etymologically related with that country: it derives, instead, from a phonetic adaptation of its Basque name (Portu-Ugaldeta) (edges of the port) to the Spanish language.

Transporter bridge

The town has the Vizcaya Bridge, a transporter bridge inaugurated in 1893.^[3] The car ferry is suspended from a frame by wires attached to wheels on tracks above the cabin and moves from one side of the River Nervión to the other (Getxo) via a traction system.

This bridge was declared a World Heritage Site in 2006.^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1842 959 —     1857 1,435 +49.6% 1877 2,476 +72.5% 1887 3,375 +36.3% 1900 4,826 +43.0% 1910 5,612 +16.3% 1920 7,898 +40.7% 1930 9,872 +25.0% 1940 10,613 +7.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1950 11,769 +10.9% 1960 22,713 +93.0% 1970 45,803 +101.7% 1981 58,071 +26.8% 1991 55,823 −3.9% 2001 51,066 −8.5% 2011 47,698 −6.6% 2021 45,294 −5.0%
Source: INE[5]

Festivals

San Roque Festivals

The festivals officially last four days, from 14 to 17 August, the main festivities occurring on 15 and 16 August, San Roque Day. The people sing the song "La Diana Portugaluja" outside the Town Hall in the morning of 15 August to mark the eve of San Roque Day.

Monuments

Monuments in Portugalete include the 15th century Basílica of Santa María, Salazar's Tower and the town hall in addition to the mediaeval arches and streets in the older part of the town.

See also

• Asti-Leku Ikastola, a private school in Portugalete.
• Club Portugalete, a football club based in the town.
• Palacio del Marqués de Portugalete, an opulent residence that once stood in Portugalete.
• Portugalete (Metro Bilbao), the town's central metro station.