Sopela, formerly known as Sopelana, is a town and
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
located in the province of
Biscay
Biscay (; eu, Bizkaia ; es, Vizcaya ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao.
B ...
, in the autonomous community of
Basque Country, northern
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
The town is roughly 820 hectares in size, located in the
comarca
A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...
Mungialdea
Mungialdea, also known as Uribe-Butroe,Bilbao
)
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, pushpin_map_caption ...
and due east of the
Nervión
, name_etymology =
, image = Nervion.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, image_caption = River Nervion with Zubizuri footbridge.
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river estuary. In the municipality, other former towns like Larrabasterra were annexed to make Sopela larger. The population is 13,878 people, as recorded in the 2019 census. The area of Sopela is situated among green hills and beaches. This makes it a very attractive suburb of Greater Bilbao, with a short commute of 35 minutes on the metro.
History
Since the late 1980s, the population of Sopela has continued to grow and currently has 13.000 citizens. During the industrialization the citizens moved to the urban centres that were more crowded but since that decade this tendency has been reversed. Sopela has become a residential municipality well connected with bigger municipalities and with
Bilbao
)
, motto =
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, map_caption = Interactive map outlining Bilbao
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. It was at first a primarily tourist destination, where the properties and house owners only moved to spend summer holidays but it has turned into a residential town. At the moment, it is one of the municipalities with the highest per capita income of Spain.
Geographic situation
Sopela belongs to a region called
Uribe
The Merindad de Uribe or Uribealdea is a historical subdivision of Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. It contained most of the municipalities now within the comarca of Greater Bilbao in the Bilbao metropolitan area (other than the majority of the '' ...
that is composed by 15 municipalities that are:
Arrieta
Arrieta (both in Basque and Spanish) is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country, Spain. Arrieta is part of the ''comarca'' of Mungialdea. It had a population of 552 inhabitants as of 2007, and a populati ...
,
Bakio
Bakio ( eu, Bakio, es, Baquio) is a municipality in the province of Biscay, Basque Country, Spain.
Location and characteristics
It is a small valley which is drained inland by the River Estepona. This valley is surrounded by mountains to the ...
,
Barrika
Barrika is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, Spain, in the autonomous community of Basque Country.
It is considered one of the oldest municipalities of Biscay. It was founded by Sancho Vela. As it is placed next to the ...
,
Gámiz-Fica,
Gatika
, population_note =
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,
Górliz
Gorliz () is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, which lies within the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town had 5,664 inhabitants in 2014.
Gorliz consists of the following neighborhoods: ...
,
Laukiniz,
Lemoniz
Lemoiz ( es, Lemóniz) is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It has a population of about 1243.
It was chosen as the site of the Lemoniz Nuclear Power Plant, ...
,
Maruri-Jatabe
Maruri-Jatabe is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado) ...
,
Meñaka
Meñaka is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg ...
,
Mungia
Mungia (in Spanish: ''Munguía'') is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country of northern Spain. The
town has 17,691 inhabitants (2019).
Geography
Mungia lies 20 metres above sea level in an area full of ...
,
Plencia, Sopelana and
Urduliz
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. It borders with the Cantabrian sea in the north, what makes Sopelana have spectacular cliffs and beaches (
Barinatxe,
Arrietara,
Atxabiribil and
Meñakoz). The municipality of
Barrika
Barrika is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, Spain, in the autonomous community of Basque Country.
It is considered one of the oldest municipalities of Biscay. It was founded by Sancho Vela. As it is placed next to the ...
is located to the Northeast,
Getxo
Getxo () is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in Spain.
It is part of Greater Bilbao, and has 77,946 inhabitants (2019). Getxo is mostly an affluent residential area, as well as being the ...
to the Northwest,
Urduliz
, population_note =
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, blank_name_sec1 = Official language(s)
, blank_info_sec1 = BasqueSpanish
, timezone = CET
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to the Southeast and
Berango
, population_note =
, population_density_km2 = auto
, blank_name_sec1 = Official language(s)
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to the Southwest.
Climate
Sopela's
oceanic climate is very different from the one of southern Spain. Harsh winds tend to pick up speed along the coast and precipitation is very common all year round. Northern winds often bring the winter temperature to just above the freezing point, but summers are usually comfortable from late May to early September. Snow is common three days each winter on averag
The summer climate is warm and the temperatures are moderated by the constant sea breezes.
Beaches
Sopela is known for three beaches
Atxabiribil,
Barinatxe and
Arrietara. They are rather exposed to the elements of the
Bay of Biscay and have good conditions for surfers. A fourth beach,
Meñakoz is of less appeal for sun worshippers and more for the surfer crowd due to the pebble bed ground. Sopela is frequently the host of regional surf competitions as conditions are adequate for surfing in its beaches. A less famous, but also internationally known event, is the yearly nude race on Barinatxe beach in the fall. Barinatxe is a clothing optional beach. Another special place in Sopela is a small creek called
Ikatza known only by its citizens.
Transport
The town is connected to the main transport arteries with two metro stations on the
Line 1 of
Bilbao Metro
The Bilbao metro ( es, Metro de Bilbao, eu, Bilboko metroa) 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 comb ...
and highways.
Larrabasterra station is located to the far south of Sopela in Larrabasterra, while
Sopela station (formerly ''Sopelana'') is at the center of the municipality. Several bus routes also connect Sopela to Bilbao and nearby towns, like Barrika, Plentzia, Gorliz and Armintza. These buses are:
*
Bizkaibus:
**A3451:
Las Arenas Areeta (''Las Arenas'' in Spanish) is a neighbourhood of Getxo (Biscay, Basque Country, Spain). It is an affluent residential area that was built over the sands of a beach where the Gobela Creek died into a diffuse delta at the mouth of the Estuary ...
- Arminza.
**A3531: Sopelana -
Munguía -
Gatica.
**A2166:
Uribe Kosta -
UPV/EHU
There is also a local bus service which connects the town centre with the beaches, it joins the following neighbourhoods: Larrabasterra / Arrietara / Beaches / Sopelmar / Ugeraga / Moreaga / Centre.
Patronal feasts
The patron saint of the town is San Pedro or
Saint Peter
) (Simeon, Simon)
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria, Roman Empire
, death_date = Between AD 64–68
, death_place = probably Vatican Hill, Rome, Italia, Roman Empire
, parents = John (or Jonah; Jona)
, occupat ...
and his feast days are the most representative ones. They are held at the end of the month of June and they last up to a week and a half. The big day is the 29th. The patroness of the neighbourhood of Larrabasterra is
Virgen del Carmen
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Virgin of Carmel, is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order, particularly within the Catholic Church. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Ca ...
and her feast days are held in mid-July. The big day is the 16th.
Shopping
There are no large shopping areas or malls in Sopela. The shopping centres are located a short car ride away in nearby towns like
Getxo
Getxo () is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in Spain.
It is part of Greater Bilbao, and has 77,946 inhabitants (2019). Getxo is mostly an affluent residential area, as well as being the ...
,
Leioa
Leioa ( es, Lejona) is a municipality in Biscay, Basque Country, in northern Spain. It is located south of Getxo and Berango delimitating east and south with Erandio, Portugalete and Sestao. Today it is part of the Bilbao conurbation. Its populat ...
,
Barakaldo
Barakaldo ( es, Baracaldo; eu, Barakaldo ) is a municipality located in the Biscay province in the Basque Country. Located on the Left Bank of the Estuary of Bilbao, the city is part of Greater Bilbao, has a population at 100,881. Barakaldo h ...
or
Bilbao
)
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, map_caption = Interactive map outlining Bilbao
, pushpin_map = Spain Basque Country#Spain#Europe
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. However, the centre of Sopela is full of small shops with a wide variety of goods. Along the main road to West Sopela, there are several youth oriented shops and surf shops open all year round.
References
External links
SOPELA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)
Official website
{{authority control
Municipalities in Biscay
Estuary of Bilbao