Portugalete

Portugalete (Portugaldeta)
Noble Villa de Portugalete
Portugalete from Vizcaya Bridge
Portugalete from Vizcaya Bridge
Flag of Portugalete (Portugaldeta)
Coat of arms of Portugalete (Portugaldeta)
Map
Location of Portugalete
Coordinates: 43°19′10″N 3°1′10″W / 43.31944°N 3.01944°W / 43.31944; -3.01944
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityBasque Country
ProvinceBiscay
ComarcaGreater Bilbao
Founded1322
Government
 • AlcaldeMikel Torres Lorenzo (PSE-EE)
Area
 • Total
3.21 km2 (1.24 sq mi)
Elevation
26 m (85 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total
45,826
 • Density14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Portugalujo/a, Jarrillero/a, Portulano/a
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
48920
Official language(s)Basque and Spanish
WebsiteOfficial website

Portugalete is a town lying to the west of Bilbao in the province of Biscay in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, northern Spain.

The town has 45,766 inhabitants (2019 census) and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. It is located at the mouth of the Estuary of Bilbao, on the left bank. Its land area is only 3.21 km², resulting in a population density of 15,908.4 persons/km², the fifth-most densely populated municipality in Spain (following Mislata, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Benetússer, and Santa Coloma de Gramenet). It was established in 1322 by María Díaz de Haro.[2]

Despite its name, it is not near the Spanish border with Portugal and its name is not etymologically related with that country: it derives, instead, from a phonetic adaptation of its Basque name (Portu-Ugaldeta) (edges of the port) to the Spanish language.

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ "Portugalete". Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2024.