Architect of Bilbao’s Guggenheim, Frank Gehry dies at 96; property prices in Spain soar by biggest rise in 18 years; and more news from Spain this Monday December 8th.
Frank Gehry, architect behind Bilbao’s Guggenheim, dies at 96
Canada-born US architect Frank Gehry, whose daring and whimsical designs from the Guggenheim Bilbao to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles captivated fans and critics, died last week. He was 96.
His most iconic design was arguably the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, which earned him international acclaim and notice.
The limestone and glass building with curvy walls clad in titanium scales is instantly recognisable as a Gehry design, and was once described by his American colleague Philip Johnson as “the greatest building of our time.”
The building helped revitalise the ancient industrial heart of the Spanish city, attracting visitors from around the world and leading to the coining of the term “Bilbao effect” to explain how beautiful architecture can transform an area.
“We will be forever grateful, and his spirit and legacy will always remain connected to Bilbao,” the museum said on social media.
Property prices in Spain soar by biggest rise in 18 years
The price of property continues to rise in Spain, with new market data showing that in the third quarter of the year it shot up by 12.8 percent.
That represents the largest year-on-year increase since records began back in 2007, when it rose by 13.1 percent. This previous record was in the period building up to the property bubble.
The price of private housing in Spain has now risen for 46 consecutive quarters.
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Madrid leads way in foreign tourist spending
The Madrid region has consolidated its lead in Spain in terms of average tourist spending, with the capital and surrounding areas putting more distance between itself and other areas of the country.
Reporting from Hosteltur shows that from January to October 2025, the region recorded spending of €1,964 per tourist, a figure that is well above other regions of Spain.
It represents growth of 7.26 percent, which is also the largest year-on-year increase in this period.
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95 percent of victims of sexual violence in Spain do not report it
The latest National Survey on Violence Against Women, recently published by the Ministry of Equality, reveals that 95 percent of victims of sexual violence in Spain do not report it due to fear of not being believed, shame or guilt.
According to data obtained from more than 11,800 surveys, 14.5 percent of women in Spain have suffered sexual violence at some point in their lives, half of which experienced it before the age of 15.
Only 5 percent of victims went to the police. This rises to 9.9 percent in the case of rape.
A total 36.6 percent of female victims who did not report the abuse said it was due to shame, embarrassment, or because they didn’t want anyone to know. Almost two out of ten did not go to the police because they thought it was their fault and another 21.4 percent for fear of not being believed.
With reporting from AFP.
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