17 October 2016

A lot going on in the Basque Country

Guggenheim Bilbao is celebrating 20 years since its opening in 1997 by launching a special yearly commemoration around the concept of 'Art Changes Everything'. According to Bilbao Tourism Board, the special program will be aimed at strengthening the museum’s position as a reference point in the international art scene and increasing its attractiveness in the global arena with activities that will target both the local community and foreign visitors.

There will be three main areas of focus. In the artistic field, there will be an ambitious project for the conservation of the museum's own collection and a special exhibition program.  Additionally, the Guggenheim will be work with cultural entities and the local art community by providing young Basque artists the opportunity to exhibit their work through a collaborative project. Finally, there will be a series of celebratory events created with and for local citizens and international tourists.

Another important highlight for the Guggenheim Museum is the Francis Bacon exhibition that can be viewed until 8 January. The exhibition will be showing a selection of 50 paintings of the artist, including 30 works of various classical and modern masters who influenced his career.


14 new hotels to open in San Sebastián in 2017 and 2018
According to San Sebastian Tourism Board, 14 boutique and medium sized hotels (mainly 4- and 5-star hotels) will open in 2017 and 2018 to welcome tourists to San Sebastián. The new hotels represent an addition of 500 rooms, a 20% increase on the number of rooms currently available in the city. San Sebastián has seen an increasing number of international tourists in 2016, since being named the ‘European Capital of Culture 2016’ and expects numbers to continue to rise.

Grand Hotel Balmoral will open early next year in Lapuebla de Labarca, Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Alavesa Wine Route is announcing that the former textile factory of Balmoral is being transformed into a luxury hotel. The project will be dived into three stages of development and when completed, there will be a total of 40 rooms, including a 90 square metres suite.  All the rooms will have a space of at least 20 square metres and will have large windows, bathrooms and wardrobes with the exception of the presidential suite that will be equipped with sauna and whirlpool in the bathroom, a large living room with fireplace, a kitchenette and a balcony. In 2017 the hotel will start operating with 18 rooms, 6 more will be added in a second phase of the project and the rest in the third one, where there will also be the addiction of a spa area.

San Sebastián opens the first 'Hurley Surf Club' in Spain
San Sebastián Tourism Board is highlighting the opening of the fist 'Hurley Surf Club' in Spain at the beginning of October. Located in the lively Gros District of San Sebastián, this advanced centre for surfers includes a pioneering facility in the world of teaching surf, where free programs such as video coaching sessions with professionals and yoga sessions are offered. Following an in-water surf lesson, coaches can use a classroom space to give students immediate feedback on their performance.

Game of Thrones to be filmed in the Basque Country
Zumaia and Bermeo Town Councils are proud to announce that Game of Thrones will be filming part of its seventh season in their seaside territories in the Basque Country. The spectacular cliffs created by the flysch formations and the island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe are among the settings that have attracted the attention of the producers of the epic fantasy TV series. Filming of the new episodes started during the summer and they are expected to be released in 2017.