This panoramic view of the city of Bilbao belongs to "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", one of the most significant publishing enterprises of the sixteenth century. Regarded as the earliest printed depiction of the city, this engraving was included in the second volume of the publication, whose first edition was dated in 1575. The copper plate engraving, a work by Frans Hogenberg, was based on a drawing made in 1544 by Johannes Muflin—believed to be an agent of the Flemish publisher Christophe Plantin. The composition shows the oldest centre of the city, seen from the southwest, emphasising the importance of the estuary and the harbour, two key elements for the economic development of Bilbao. The place was better sheltered than other sea harbours, a critical factor in turning the city into a thriving trading port. The illustration evinces the architecture and cultural wealth of the region, highlighting the effect of the natural environment in its urban and economic growth. Following the plan of Hogenberg’s other bird's-eye views, the foreground includes a genre scene that affords a glimpse of Basque customs and fashions in those days.

"Civitates Orbis Terrarum" is one of the most important and complete publications of the geography and cartography of the modern world. The principal editor of the book was the German cleric Georg Braun, who, with the collaboration of scientists and churchmen, compiled the images featured in the publication and wrote the Latin texts with information on the history, geography, architecture, economy and culture of each region. It is an essential documentary source on the layout of the modern city, with views of battles, bird’s-eye views of cities, towns and their natural surroundings.

"Civitates Orbis Terrarum" consists of six volumes published between 1572 and 1617, containing 546 views of towns and cities in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and part of America. Many important geographers and mapmakers collaborated in this publishing endeavour. A special mention is deserved for Abraham Ortelius, the writer of "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", which, for the first time, gathered a number of maps in a structured order, earning it the consideration as the first modern atlas.

The images inluded in the publication provide excellent testimony of the layout of sixteenth-century towns and cities and help in understanding their development over the course of history.