Aitor Delgado: the guide who will show you the greatest artistic and cultural treasures of the Basque Country
Aitor Delgado: the guide who will show you the greatest artistic and cultural treasures of the Basque Country
One of the main reasons why tourists visit the Basque Country is its art; either to discover its rich cultural heritage or to discover new artistic talents. Many collectors turn to trained professionals to assist them in their search for contemporary pieces, and in this regard Aitor Delgado is a prominent figure. An official guide authorized by the Basque Government and licensed to show elements classified as cultural heritage, as well as being a member of the board of directors of Apit Euskadi (the Basque Country’s Professional Tourist Guide Association), Delgado has undergone specific training in collecting by Saisho Art and he is an accredited guide for the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao and the Chillida Leku Museum, being able to show their permanent collections and their temporary exhibitions.
His way of working involves designing each day of his clients’ visit individually, following the guidelines and interests that they lay out for him. He has numerous resources which range from prestigious galleries and museums to special access to places unknown to most or with restrictions for entering: prehistoric caves to learn about the Paleolithic art of the Cantabrian coast; museums like San Telmo, Artium, the Álava Fine Arts Museum, the Basque Museum in Bayonne, the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, and a number of ethnographic museums; the Oma Painted Forest, created by artist Agustín Ibarrola; galleries like Juan Manuel Lumbreras, Arteko, Arteztu, Cibrián, Ekain Arte Lanak, Sorgin Gallery, Espazio Marzana, Villa Magdalena, and the Epelde Gallery/Restaurant; the ateliers and private exhibition spaces belonging to artists like Iñigo Manterola, Ricardo Ugarte, Alfredo Bikondoa, Jesus Mari Lazkano, Joseba Lekuona Yaben, Jose Luis Zumeta, Ignacio Goitia, Miguel Balliache, and Juanjo San Pedro; as well as spaces specializing in pottery and ceramics, like the gallery and workshop of Blanka Gómez de Segura, the Goicoechea store/workshop, and the Ollerias Museum. And why not combine the suggestions above with a private visit to the Loizaga Tower? This is a fourteenth-century defensive fortress that was rebuilt in the twentieth century and which houses the Museum of Classic and Antique Cars, which features the most comprehensive exhibition of Rolls-Royces in Europe.
That ability to put plans together in an original way and design enjoyable and interesting outings for his clients is precisely what has led Aitor Delgado to receive numerous awards: the Travelers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor for the eleventh time, as well as his inclusion in the platform’s Hall of Fame; his recognition in the World Luxury Travel Awards, granted in 2024, in the Luxury Travel Company from Southern Europe category; the Queer Destinations Distinction of 2024; his inclusion in the Basque Government’s Tourism Ethics Registry; and the Nature Tourism Sustainability Certificate from the Natura 2000 Network. Despite all the awards and recognitions he has garnered, he never tires of continuing to learn and he actively participates in new training courses. The most recent expert talks that he took part in during 2024, given by the creator of Luxelling, César Val, were called “Thought and Business in the Luxury Segment,” a sector in which Aitor Delgado has found his market niche.
Aitor Delgado
Tel.: +34 687 476 134
