The temporary exhibition 725 years of Bilbao and its port in nautical charts proposes a visual and historical journey from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century through different representations of the town of Bilbao and its port through sea charts, atlases and engravings. The exhibition is part of the commemorative events of the 725th anniversary of the founding of the city.

Many of the pieces are part of the Oleaga-Pont collection, and have been generously donated for exhibition along with other museum pieces in the area dedicated to Bilbao.

Ramón Oleaga, curator of the exhibition, is a researcher and expert in cartography, and has brought together a series of pieces that allow us to understand how the image of the sea and the city has been constructed over the centuries. In addition, Ramón Oleaga has created an explanatory notebook with some keys that help to interpret all the cartography and exhibited pieces.

A special section is dedicated to the image of Bilbao in cartography and engraving. From the first views of the sixteenth century to the industrialization of the nineteenth century, the transformation of the port and its presence in European atlases is documented. Engravings such as Braun & Hogenberg’s (1575), Tofiño’s charts (1789) or the optical views of the 18th century show the growing relevance of Bilbao as an international port.

Highlights include:

• The Spieghel der Zeevaerdt charts (1583) by Lucas Jansz Waghenaer, pioneers of marine atlases.
• Charts by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Johannes van Keulen and Robert Dudley.
• Examples taken from the monumental atlas Le Neptune François (1693), promoted by the French government.
• The Maritime Atlas of Spain (1789) by Vicente Tofiño, a landmark of national scientific cartography in the sections showing our coastline.
• Copies of the famous British “blueback charts” of the 19th century.

Also on display is an original engraving plate and complementary visual material, such as lithographs of romantic Bilbao and documents on the development of the port and mining.