In this guest post author Paul Kilduff, interviewed last year on the Europe a la Carte Blog, tells us about his recent foray to Bilbao in Spain, explaining why he decided to construct a free photo guide to the city.

Puppy by Jeff Koons, Bilbao

Despite being Spain’s fourth largest city (after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia), no one would have wanted to visit Bilbao just a decade ago. At that time it was a port city and an industrial hub where the only visitors were executives in suits attending unexciting trade fairs. But recently thanks to the local government, Bilbao has been transformed into a tourist destination by some state of the art buildings and features.

Plaza Moyua, the hub of Bilbao

Here’s how Bilbao was simply transformed – the city’s dirty port was moved 12 kms away to a new coastal location ;Norman Foster built a cool Metro system ; an eco friendly riverside tramway system was built ; a striking airport and the Zubi-Zuri footbridge were designed by Santiago Calatrava ; the tanker-like Euskalduna conference centre was voted the world’s best such centre, and Canadian Frank S Gehry designed the stunning Guggenheim Museo, or ‘El Goog’, which is very first building you see as you arrive into the city from the airport. At the same time the city authorities preserved the historic old town (El Casco Viejo), they pedestrianised the streets and they promoted art, culture and nightlife.

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

I have spent the last three years writing books about Ryanair, or Ruinair as I prefer to call them, but to reach Bilbao from the UK, you must fly on the more civilised easyJet from London Stansted. I researched Bilbao online before I went but all I found were long pages of dull text. I wanted to see Bilbao. A picture tells a thousand words. So here is my revolutionary free photo guide plus handy tips to Spain’s best kept secret. .