Gran Vía Don Diego López de Haro, known as Gran Via, is one of the main streets of the town of Bilbao. Commercial and financial center of the capital, home to many shops, public institutions and banks.
Named in honor of the founder of the city in 1300, Mr. Diego Lopez V of Haro, Lord of Vizcaya, was designed as part of the plans of the enlargement of Bilbao, presented in 1876 by architect Severino Achúcarro, Pablo de Alzola and Ernesto de Hoffmeyer, engineers of roads ports and canals, developed on the old porch of Abando.
A few of the most important residential, commercial, institutional and business buildings of the Villa, such as BBVA building in Circular Square, The department store Corte Ingles, Sota building at number 45, LezamaLeguizamón house, between the avenue and Doña Casilda Park, the Hotel Carlton and Chávarri Palace (now Government seat in Bizkaia), located in Moyua Square, and The Provincial Council of Biscay Palace, overlook this great Avenue.