Biblioteca Municipal de Bidebarrieta (Bidebarrieta Municipal Library), Bilbao

Built between 1888 and 1890, this library was originally designed in an eclectic style by prominent Bilbao architect Severino de Achúcarro, as the headquarters of the cultural-recreational society El Sitio, established to honor those who defended Bilbao during the Carlist Wars. Since 1956, the building has served as the city’s municipal library, embodying both a historical monument and a public institution.

The Bidebarrieta Library is celebrated not only for its baroque elegance and stained-glass windows, but also for its inviting interior spaces: visitors and locals alike describe its reading rooms as "a gorgeous old‑world library" and praise the tranquil atmosphere ideal for study and reflection. With a collection exceeding 100,000 books, it stands among Bilbao’s most important cultural centers.

Over the years, the building has withstood the passage of time and undergone careful restoration. It sustained serious damage during the Bilbao floods of 1983 and was closed for five years before reopening in 1988. More recently, in 2015, the main façade underwent careful rehabilitation to preserve its historic grandeur for future generations.