BILBAO, April 11-- Athletic Club Bilbao celebrated the Copa del Rey title they won on Saturday by beating Mallorca after a penalty shootout, in unique fashion on Thursday as the team and technical staff travelled up the river Nervion on a historic barge known as the 'Gabarra.'

The Gabarra set sail at the mouth of the river and travelled 12 kilometers to the City Hall in the center of Bilbao, passing landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum and the club's San Mames Stadium, with the riverbanks crowded with celebrating fans.

The Cup winners were accompanied by over 100 small boats, including 30 traditional Basque rowing boats, with all of them decked out in the club's red and white colors.

The celebration began at 16:30 local time, to allow people to arrive after work and the region's schools cancelled their afternoon classes so students could watch the historic event.

Over a million people crowded down both banks of the river to cheer the players of a side, which contains only footballers born and raised in the Basque Region of northern Spain and southern France - a policy which gives Athletic Club a special sense of identity and local pride.

There were special cheers for coach Ernesto Valverde, who has led Athletic to their first Copa del Rey in 40 years, with the club losing six finals since they last lifted the trophy in 1984.