Simón Bolívar

Simón Bolívar is a bust-monument in Bilbao, standing on Plaza de Venezuela in the Abando district, right by the bridge next to the town hall. It honors the Venezuelan military leader and statesman who led South America's wars of independence — a man who also happened to spend more than a year living in Bilbao at the turn of the 19th century.

Where is the Bolívar monument in Bilbao?

The bust stands on Plaza de Venezuela, a small square in Abando on the right bank of the Nervión river, close to the Ayuntamiento bridge by the city hall. It sits in the heart of the city, an easy walk from Abando station and the riverside promenades. The square's name is no coincidence — it was Venezuela that funded and pushed for the monument in the first place.

What will you see there?

On a pedestal stands a bust of Simón Bolívar, the work of sculptor L. Ibarra. The translucent base carries an inscription recalling that Bolívar liberated Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Panama, and describing the statue as a token of friendship between Venezuela and Bilbao. It's a modest but symbolically loaded piece of public art, listed as one of the stops on Bilbao Turismo's outdoor art route ("Arte al Aire Libre").

What is the history behind the monument?

The sculpture was unveiled on 18 October 1989, commissioned and sponsored by the Venezuelan government as a gesture of friendship toward Bilbao. An identical copy of the bust stands in La Puebla de Bolívar (Cenarruza, Biscay), the ancestral home of the Bolívar family before they emigrated to the Americas. Having the same monument in both Bilbao and the family's ancestral village underlines the Basque roots of the famous Liberator.

What connection did Bolívar have with Bilbao?

Simón Bolívar lived in Bilbao between 20 March 1801 and 29 April 1802, during a longer stay in Spain before his eventual departure for the Americas. A commemorative plaque on a building on Calle Banco de España, in the old town (Casco Viejo), marks the house where he resided. A street in Bilbao also carries his name, further weaving the Liberator into the city's everyday geography.

How do you get there?

Plaza de Venezuela sits right in central Bilbao, in Abando — the district that also holds the railway station, banks and offices. It's an easy walk from Gran Vía or the riverside; metro and tram stops in Abando are just a few minutes away on foot. The square pairs well with a visit to Casco Viejo, home to the plaque marking Bolívar's former residence.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Simón Bolívar monument in Bilbao? It's a bust of the Venezuelan independence leader, standing on Plaza de Venezuela in the Abando district, unveiled in 1989 at the initiative of the Venezuelan government.

Did Bolívar really live in Bilbao? Yes — he lived there between March 1801 and April 1802; a commemorative plaque in the old town (Casco Viejo) marks the site of his former residence.

Is there another Bolívar monument nearby? Yes, an identical copy of the bust stands in La Puebla de Bolívar (Cenarruza), the ancestral home of the Bolívar family before they moved to the Americas.

How do you reach the monument? Head to Abando and Plaza de Venezuela — it's a few minutes' walk from Abando station and the Nervión riverside, right in the center of Bilbao.