Take the ferry to Bilbao for a fiesta with a difference

Each August, ferry-port Bilbao is home to one of Spain's most famous fiestas.

Attended by more than 100,000 people, the Aste Nagusia celebrations include the vibrant international firework festivals which are hosted by a different country every night.

Marquees from societies and bars line the streets and there are daily competitions for cooks and food producers.

Throughout the festival, free performances are staged in squares and churches, some of which continue well into the early hours.

For children, there are circus shows, parades and fair huts to keep them entertained.

It lasts for ten days, starting on the Saturday after the festival of Nuestra Sonora de Begona on August 15th. The festival comes to an end when residents submerge the figure of Marijaia in the river until the opening of the next festival.

Bilbao is the largest city in the Basque country and also offers other attractions such as the Guggenheim museum and Santiago Cathedral.