Tourism destinations
Towns
Sheltered by the Triano hills and just a few kilometres from Bilbao, the Trápaga valley is set in the mining area of Bizkaia province. The mining industry has marked both the development and the very form of the municipality, which is divided into two distinct parts: the Zona Alta, where the mining neighbourhoods are, and the Zona Baja, the urban centre where most of the population and amenities are to be found. As a consequence of the Triano railway, created in the late 19th century, mining activity suffered an amazing development, so that many people settled at the highest part of the valley. Nowadays, we can still find remains of this activity (Peñamora Mine, La Arboleda and La Reineta...), moreover, many of these areas have been converted in leisure areas. For example, former mines were flooded and today they are small artificial lakes, ideal for fishing.
La Arboleda and La Reineta funicular railway La Arboleda, for instance, provides several leisure areas, a hostel belonging to the Regional Council of Bizkaia, some sports facilities and many restaurants where visitors will taste the best local gastronomy. Not further, the Interpretation Centre Peñas Negras offers information about routes to be covered in the surroundings. A way for reaching this area is the singular La Reineta funicular railway. Founded in 1926, it is the only one in Spain whose cars go up and down horizontally. La Reineta funicular railway leads us to the homonym neighbourhood, just one kilometre from La Arboleda. From this point visitors will enjoy beautiful views of Bilbao's El Abra port. On the other hand, in the main urban area of Valle de Trápaga, we must mention some interesting buildings dating from the late 19th c. and the beginning of the 20th. The neo-Romanesque church of Transfiguración del Señor (1930) has a Latin-cross plan, three naves, tower and a portico. The churches of San José Obrero ¿in neo-Romanesque style- and San Juan Bautista ¿neo-classical and with one nave- are also worth a visit. Relating to civil architecture, we cannot miss the neo-classical town hall built in the first decade of the 20th century, and the Olaso Palace, a copy of another gothic palace that the Olaso family built in Bergara in the 16th century. Today this building hosts the culture centre of the town.
