Casco Viejo

Historia

Las Siete Calles or Casco Viejo in Spanish or Zazpikaleak or Alde Zaharra in Basque are different names for the medieval neighbourhood of Bilbao, part of the Ibaiondo district. The names mean Seven Streets or Old Town respectively and it used to be the walled part of the town until the end of the 19th century.The Seven StreetsThe name Zazpikaleak or Las Siete Calles come from the oldest part of the neighbourhood which included exactly 7 streets and some much more narrow alleys connecting them, called cantons . The historical seven streets of Bilbao are: Somera, "upper"Artekale, "middle street"Tendería, "shopkeeper's"Belostikale, "rapid street"Carnicería Vieja, "old butchery"Barrenkale, "lower street"Barrenkale Barrena, "lower lower street" The "8th" street is Ronda, which used to be the patrol street outside the walls. Later the town expanded northwards with the construction of the Plaza Berria or Plaza Nueva and the streets Santa María, Bidebarrieta, Correo and Askao. Nowadays the neighbourhood also includes the Ribera street, the Arenal Park and Esperanza street as well.The area is served by Casco Viejo station of the Bilbao Metro.Image:Plaza nueva de Bilbao.JPG|Plaza Nueva Image:Portal de Zamudio.JPG|Casco viejo, Portal de Zamudio Image:Bilbao - Mercado de la Ribera 4.jpg|The market Mercado de la Ribera Image:La Ribera.JPG|La Ribera