Leioa () is a municipality in
Biscay
Biscay ( ; ; ), is a province of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the Bay of Biscay, eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilb ...
,
Basque Country, in northern
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. It is located south of Getxo and Berango delimitating east and south with Erandio, Portugalete and Sestao. Today it is part of the
Bilbao
Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...
conurbation
A conurbation is a region consisting of a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most ...
. Its population in 2019 was 31,795. Leioa has an area of . The Udondo river constitutes the eastern limit of the municipality.
History
Leioa has its origins in 1526, before which it was part of the "anteiglesia de Erandio".
It was a village with no more than 8000 people until the 1960s, when development came its way, as
Bilbao
Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...
expanded. Its population experienced a rapid increase in the 1970s, and a more moderate growth afterwards. It has become a part of
metropolitan Bilbao.
Neighborhoods
*Peruri, Zuazu, Sarriena, Santsoena and Lertutxe.
*Tellería, Basaez, Artatzagane, Negurigane and Aldekoane.
*Artaza, Elexalde, Ikea Mendi, Udondo, Mendibil and Santimami.
*Pinueta, Lamiako, Txopoeta, Ondiz, Txorierri, Aketxe and Ibaiondo (Santa Ana).
Features
The municipality of Leioa still retains much of its agricultural past and out of the urban centre many traditional
Basque
Basque may refer to:
* Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France
* Basque language, their language
Places
* Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France
* Basque Country (autonomous co ...
houses can still be seen on little family farms, though rapid development puts their long-term future in question.
The
University of the Basque Country
The University of the Basque Country (, ''EHU''; , ''UPV''; officially EHU) is a Spanish public university of the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Autonomous Community.
Heir of the University of Deusto, University of Bilbao, initial ...
(''EHU-UPV'' ''Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea'' - ''Universidad del Pais Vasco'') has most faculties within this municipality.
Festivities
*May 29: “Lamiako maskarada” festivity in Lamiako.
*June 24: “San Joan Bataiatzailea” festivity in Elexalde.
*August 24: “San Bartolomé” festivity in Basaez.
*September 8: “Ntra. Sra. De los Remedios” festivity in Ondiz.
*May 15: “San Isidro” festivity.
*August 17: Santi Mami jaiak.
*September 10: Udondoko jaiak.
*September 29: San Miguel Txopoetako jaiak.
Metro
Two consecutive stations of
Line 1 of the
Metro Bilbao
The Bilbao metro (, ) is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Lines 1 and 2 have a "Y" shape, as they transit both banks of the river Ibaizabal and then combine to form one line that ends in the s ...
rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. A grade separation, grade separated rapid transit line below ground su ...
system are located in Leioa:
Leioa and
Lamiako.
Notable people
*
Félix Sesúmaga (1898–1925), professional footballer
References
External links
LEIOA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)
Official website''Tourism.euskadi.eus'' Leioa
Municipalities in Biscay
Estuary of Bilbao
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