Vitoria-Gasteiz from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Vitoria-Gasteis.

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The capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, is often undeservedly overshadowed by Bilbao. However, the city deserves the closest attention of tourists: firstly, there is an amazing old quarter with a mass of medieval mansions. Secondly, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Art Museum, in terms of the number of originals with famous signatures, easily “makes up” the promoted galleries of Bilbao. Thirdly, the city welcomes tourists with the noisy, cheerful atmosphere of the student center of northern Spain and, as a result, a huge number of cute bars and restaurants and a solid list of cultural events, including the festival of rock, jazz and the colorful fiesta of La Blanca. In short, you should definitely visit Vitoria-Gasteiz - you will not regret it!

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How to get to Vitoria-Gasteiz

Vitoria-Gasteiz is located 66 km south of Bilbao, from which you can get to the city by bus in 1 hour and from 6.30 EUR. Buses to Vitoria often leave from San Sebastian; travel time 1 h. 15 min., ticket will cost from 12 EUR. The bus from Madrid takes 4 hours 43 minutes, the journey costs about 27 EUR, and from Barcelona even longer: 7 hours 05 minutes, with a fare from 32 EUR.

Fans of rail travel will not be disappointed either: trains connect Vitoria-Gasteiz with Madrid, Pamplona, ​​San Sebastian and other cities. From Barcelona or Zaragoza to Vitoria, it is convenient to take a direct train to the Miranda de Ebro station, and then change to a bus, paying 2-3 EUR for the journey.

Vitoria-Gasteiz also has its own small airport "Foronda", which accepts regional flights, from which you can get to the city by shuttle bus in half an hour and 3 EUR.

Prices on the page are for November 2018.

Find flights to Vitoria-Gasteiz

Transport in the city

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact city and its main attractions are easy to discover on foot. Many streets of the city are completely pedestrianized. There are also a huge number of cyclists here. You can rent a two-wheeled friend completely free of charge in several places in the city (a map showing their location can be obtained from the Tourism Office). There are also bike paths almost everywhere.

Longer distances are conveniently covered by Tuvisa city buses. A single-trip ticket costs 1.15 EUR, the route network is extensive and covers all areas of the city.

The number one architectural monument in Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Vitoria, the construction of which began in the 13th century and was fully completed only by the 19th.

Vitoria-Gasteiz Accommodation

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a young student city, so there will be no problems with accommodation here. The choice of tourists - city hotels, guesthouses and hostels. For accommodation in a good "four" will ask for about 70-160 EUR for a double room. In a mid-range hotel you can spend a night for 40-80 EUR, while family guesthouses charge only 40-50 EUR. You can spend the night in the hostel for 20-25 EUR, depending on the amenities.

Cuisine and restaurants

Grab a bite to eat throughout the day at the restaurant bars, which serve a selection of tapas and a selection of short drinks. As a rule, each bar has its own "alcoholic" specialization, so there is nothing reprehensible in visiting several places in a row. In addition, the city has a lot of restaurants serving Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, where you can refresh yourself with paella, pasta, pizza and other products of the gastronomic friendship of peoples.

A nice feature of the Basque Country is the ubiquitous serving of apple cider. The presence of this noble drink in the establishment is indicated by the Sidreria sign.

Shopping and shops

The heart of Vitoria-Gasteiz souvenir shops is the Old Town and especially Dato Street. Here you can buy ceramics, embroidery, wood and leather goods. The best shoes, handcrafted by local craftsmen, can be found on the same Dato street. In addition, you can take a shopping trip to the boulevard and Lakua shopping centers or to the all-Spanish Corte Ingles.

Walking tour of Vitoria-Gasteiz

Entertainment and attractions in Vitoria-Gasteiz

The number one architectural monument in Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Vitoria, the construction of which began in the 13th century and was completed only by the 19th century. Here you should pay attention to the magnificent Gothic facade, marble sculptures of the Virgin Mary and saints, bas-reliefs illustrating the Last Judgment, as well as wonderful medieval paintings in the interiors. There are interesting guided tours of the cathedral, which we strongly recommend to join.

The second cathedral of Vitoria-Gasteiz, logically called New (and officially - the Immaculate Virgin Mary), was built a little over 40 years ago. It is interesting for its remarkable beauty stained-glass windows and a tall nave; the building also houses the Museum of Religious Art with a large collection of Christian tombstones, Basque crosses and church utensils.

The old town is home to medieval mansions, cozy squares (the most famous of which is the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca) and beautiful churches, including San Pedro and San Miguel (both 14th century). The adornment of Vitoria is ancient palaces, for example, the magnificent Achuria-Enea or the building of the Parliament of the Basque Country.

The Artium Museum of Contemporary Art is the main museum collection of Vitoria. Here you can see works by Basque, Spanish and foreign artists, installations and art objects. There are many temporary exhibitions, which are generally recommended for people who are not shy about the quirks and peculiarities of the modern vision of art.

In contrast to Artium, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Museum of Fine Arts offers to the public much more unambiguous canvases: paintings by Basque artists of the 18-19 centuries, a collection of sculptures and a magnificent collection of works by the local native Fernando de Amarica in the genre of romanticism.

In Vitoria, it is worth visiting the very interesting Fournier Playing Cards Museum, the Museum of Archeology, the Museum of Weapons and the Museum of Natural Sciences.

Events in the city

On the evening of April 27, the colorful fiesta of San Prudencio begins in the city. At night and all the next day, residents of the city listen to traditional music played by open-air orchestras, visit the church in honor of St. Prudencio and eat Basque dishes from mushrooms and snails.

In June, Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts the Ascena rock festival, in mid-July - a jazz festival, and on August 4, another bright fiesta, La Blanca, begins here, lasting a whole week.

• Where to stay: In the old and invariably picturesque cities of Northern Spain: in democratic hotels of both religious and student Santiago de Compostela or in hotels with a history of the most beautiful

Before many tourists, and my husband and I were no exception, when planning a trip to the Basque Country, the question arises: is it worth going to Vitoria-Gasteiz? How interesting is it to spend precious vacation time there? Now that we have got acquainted with this beautiful Basque city, walked through its old streets, admired the ancient churches, enjoyed great food, the answer is obvious: the trip is worth it. A visit to Vitoria left a wonderful aftertaste, and when we were there, the thought constantly creeps in of how good it would be to live in such a city.

How to get there

Undoubtedly, the cheapest and fastest way to get to Spain is by plane. True, today it is possible to get to Vitoria only by land transport from other Spanish cities. The fact is that Vitoria airport has not received regular passenger flights in recent years, however, in 2017, the ubiquitous Ryanair still opened two: on and on. So the situation may change in the not too distant future.

By plane

The most convenient flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg are to Barcelona. Since from St. Petersburg to Spain in any case you will have to fly with a transfer, you can additionally consider the option through. The cost of the flight in all cases will be approximately the same and will be about 250 EUR, the travel time and a more accurate amount depends only on your luck and the layout of the route. You can see the options for ticket prices. By purchasing tickets in advance, you can save a little.

What are the prices for rest

• The average cost of a double room is 50 EUR.
• Lunch (menu del dia: 2 courses, drink and dessert) - 9-16 EUR.
• A glass of wine / beer - from 1.5-2 EUR.
• Pincho - from 1 EUR.
• Dinner for two with a bottle of wine - from 50 EUR.
• Museum ticket - 3-5 EUR.
• Travel by bus / tram - 1.4 / 1.45 EUR.
• Taxi: minimum amount - 6.4 EUR, during the day - 2 EUR / km, at night - 3 EUR / km.

Clue:

The cost of food, accommodation, transportation, and more

Currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub

Major attractions. What to see

Vitoria-Gasteiz can hardly boast of world-class attractions, but the whole city is simply saturated with a historical atmosphere, and walking around it is a pure pleasure. It is difficult, and perhaps not necessary, to single out the TOP-5 in such a small town, because even in one day you will have time to see everything. Unless it will be difficult to fully enjoy the spirit of Vitoria and go to the pinchos bars during this time. But I will try to highlight the most, and I will write in detail about these sights in the relevant sections.

Top 5

• Cathedral of Santa Maria or, as the whole city calls it, the Old Cathedral.

• White Beard Square (Plaza La Virgen Blanca).

• Fournier Playing Cards Museum.

• Florida Park.

• The fifth, but by no means the last, paragraph of this sheet I will put pinchos bars in Vitoria.

Churches and temples. Which are worth visiting

The four towers form the skyline of Vitoria and are, in fact, its symbol, captured in many images. The four towers remain in our memory, and, of course, we did not miss any of them.

All four are bell towers of churches: the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, the Church of the Holy Apostle and the Church of San Vicente Martyr. All of them are located in the old quarter of Vitoria and they all have a long history.

Cathedral of Santa Maria (Old Cathedral)

The cathedral is located on a high hill, and it was from here that the construction of the old city of Vitoria began. The cathedral was founded in the XII century, the construction was finally completed only by the XIV century. It is a Gothic cathedral with imposing walls that were originally defensive and part of the city's fortifications.

Despite the fact that St. Mary's Cathedral is currently in the woods, and it is not known when the reconstruction will end, I highly recommend visiting it. It became possible to get inside the restored object thanks to the project "Abierto por Obras" (Open for work). Excursions are held within the framework of the project, during the season it is better to sign up in advance, because tickets may not be available. It is very curious to observe the work of the restorers and see the medieval walls in the process of being restored. It is impossible to get inside the cathedral individually without an excursion.

This cathedral inspired Paulo Coelho, Jose Saramago, and his most grateful admirer is Ken Follett, who, under the impression, wrote World Without End, a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth. The city decided to perpetuate the memory of the writer and installed a bronze statue of him at the entrance.

Church of the Archangel Michael

This 14th century church is located in one of the city's most famous squares - La Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. On the porch of this church, on August 5, a sculpture of the White Virgin (Virgen Blanca), the patroness of the city, is erected, and thousands of people pass by it, performing the traditional Basque dance "Aurresku".

St. Peter's Church

One of the most significant Gothic architectural sites in northern Spain. This church, like the Cathedral of St. Mary, was located in a place of strategic importance and was a defensive structure. The most interesting is the portico with skillful stone carvings.

Church of San Vicente Mártir

Completing the list is the Church of San Vicente Mártir, built in the 15th-16th centuries. I strongly advise you not to be lazy and climb closer to it, a beautiful view of one of the most iconic squares of the city - Plaza de Machete will open from the balustrade of the church.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Virgin Mary (New Cathedral)

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the city of two cathedrals. The new cathedral in the neo-Gothic style, the last of the great cathedrals in Spain, one of the largest in the country, was erected at the beginning of the last century. The main value of the cathedral lies in the richness of the sculptural decoration in the Art Nouveau style. It also houses the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of the Province of Alava. We liked the cathedral, it's hard to imagine Vitoria without it.

Museums. Which are worth visiting

Artium

The Basque Museum of Contemporary Art Artium is one of the most attractive cultural centers in the city. The beginning of his collection was laid in the late 70s of the last century, and today the museum is very interesting for connoisseurs and connoisseurs of contemporary art. Here you will find paintings by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and many others. The museum regularly hosts interesting exhibitions.

Museum address: Francia Kalea, 24, 01002 Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Working hours: on weekdays from 11:00 to 20:20, a break from 14:00 to 17:00, on Saturday and Sunday without a break, Monday is a day off.

Cost of admission: 5 EUR for adults, students, unemployed and retired people decide for themselves whether to pay them and how much. The same "rate" applies every Wednesday and last weekend of the month for everyone.

Bibat

Literally 50 meters from Artium, there is the Bibat museum complex, which includes two museums: the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Playing Cards. The Renaissance Bendaña Palace from the 16th century and the modern brutal building, placed inside a multi-ton bronze frame, represent exactly that harmonious combination of old and new that is so characteristic of the Basque Country.

Fournier Playing Cards Museum

In 1868, a 19-year-old young man, Eraclio Fournier, opened a lithographic workshop for the production of playing cards in Vitoria. His grandson Felix Alfaro not only continued his grandfather's business and expanded production, he collected a unique collection of playing cards from all over the world. In 1984 the lava Provincial Council bought the collection. It was originally housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, but the number of exhibits was too large. After 10 years, the collection moved to the Bendaña Palace.

The museum exhibits maps of all kinds of shapes: round, rectangular, square. There are parchment, paper and silk maps. The oldest deck dates back to 1460. In the Middle Ages, cards were one of the signs that determine the status of the owner.

Archaeological Museum

The archaeological museum displays more than 1,500 exhibits from various eras in the history of the province, from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. The building project was awarded a major European prize in 2009.

Bibat opening hours:

• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
• Saturday: 10:00 to 14:00.
• Sunday and public holidays: 11:00 to 14:00.
• Monday: closed.

Entrance fee: 3 EUR, every first Saturday of the month free of charge (complex ticket, it includes visits to two museums).

Parks

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a very green city, the number of its parks exceeds four dozen. This is the choice of the townspeople, the huge number of parks says a lot about the city authorities. I'll tell you about some of the green areas of the city.

Florida Park

This park is located in the center of the city, and its layout very clearly shows the influence of French gardens of the 19th century. Ponds, bridges, grottoes, benches, fountains and statues, a music pavilion located in the center of the park preserve the atmosphere of romanticism. The park was founded in 1820, and the townspeople love it very much. There are about 100 species of trees in it, a botanical route is marked.

Green Ring (Anilo Verde)

The pride of Vitoria is the Green Ring, which almost inseparably encircles the city. Today the Green Ring consists of six parks: Armentia, Olarizu, Salburua, Zabalgana, Zadorra and Errekaleor. This is 30 km of green zone, completely restored natural areas. The project, which began in 1993, is nearing completion, and then the "ring" will close and the whole city will be surrounded by a natural zone.

One of the most interesting and iconic is Salburua Park, which is a wetland with two bird-watching observatories. You can also see deer living there in the park.

Tourist streets

The historic center of Vitoria can be roughly divided into two parts: the neoclassical area El Ensanche and the medieval city (Casco Medieval).

It is better to start the walk from El Ensanche, because it is here, in Plaza de España, that the tourist office is located, where you can get a map of the city and other interesting information.

The train station and Plaza de España are connected by the pedestrian calle Dato, a street lined with countless bars, shops and city sculptures, many of which speak of the city's good sense of humor.

The most recognizable square of the city is Plaza de La Virgen Blanca, it is unusually good, in addition, the main Vitoria festival starts from here in August. In the center of the square, the La Batalla Vitoria monument was erected, it was erected in 2012 in honor of the fact that the city was recognized as the Green Capital of Europe.

Noteworthy is the colonnaded building, Los Arquillos, this architectural solution of the eighteenth century fits perfectly into the hilly terrain of the city.

Climbing up to the Matxete square, we already find ourselves in a medieval city, so, as I said, the boundaries are very conditional. Along the street Fray Zacarias, we head towards the Escoriaza-Esquivel palace, which belonged to the court physician of the English king Henry VIII and Emperor Charles V. The palace was built in the 16th century and is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in the Basque Country.

Continuing your walk towards St. Mary's Cathedral, you will definitely not miss the Burullerías square. Here you can completely immerse yourself in the Middle Ages.

And also quickly go back to the present. The graffiti in Vitoria is very interesting, created by many workshops, there is even a special route for viewing.

Hererria Street leads to the Church of the Saint and to the Provincial Square.

On the other side of the hill is another popular street in Vitoria - calle Cuchilleria, in a simple way Kutxi. The name of the street was given in the XIII century by the king of Castile, then there were many workshops for the manufacture of knives. Now it is one of the main pintxos in the city. A must visit.

What to see in 1 day

As I already mentioned, Vitoria is a small city, and you can see almost everything in one day: walk around the historical center, visit one of the museums, go on an excursion to the Old Cathedral, and enjoy gastronomic pleasures. Plan the route as it suits you, but rather walk without a plan, even if you suddenly miss something, it will be filled with the unique atmosphere of Vitoria. You can download and take such a map at the tourist office.

In addition to the usual tourist card, you will be provided with many more different booklets, the most valuable, in my opinion, are the pintxos routes.

During a trip to any country, travelers are interested in local attractions and memorable places. Spain is an amazing country, each region of which is interesting for tourists in its own way. Seasoned travelers have probably heard of the Basque Country. It is one of the autonomous countries with its own cultural and linguistic differences.

History of the region

In the north of the country, the amazing Vitoria is located - this is not only its capital, but also the center of the province of Alava. The city also has a second name - Vitoria-Gasteiz. It currently has a population of 200,000 inhabitants. And this despite the fact that the whole province of Alava is home to 300 thousand people.

For six centuries, the lands on which Vitoria (Spain) and the Basque Country (Alava is part of it) are now subordinate to the Roman Empire. But in the 11-15th centuries, the region came under the rule of Castile and Navarre. It was at this time that the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) was founded. This memorable event took place in 1181, thanks to King Sancho VI, who was nicknamed the Wise. However, after 19 years, the city fell under the rule of the Kingdom of Castile.

The whole further existence of the Basque Country and Vitoria-Gasteiz is fighting for independence. By the way, the struggle has not stopped to this day. For the first time in documents, mention of the country's independence dates back to 1425. But the region lost its status very quickly, becoming part of the Spanish state. Independence was restored only in 1931. The country even has a parliament and government. In this status, the Basque Country existed for a very short time - until 1939. Over the next forty years, the region continued its struggle.

Nowadays...

And only in 1979, it received the status of an autonomous community, which included the provinces of Alava, Vizcaya and Ibarra. To this day, the country is actively fighting for its independent existence. Two languages ​​are used on its territory, it has its own coat of arms, flag and its own national holidays.

And Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) has become the capital of the Basque Country since 1980. All the most important political institutions are concentrated in the city.

Temple of San Miguel

The city of Vitoria in Spain is very small and very calm. Very often, tourists are completely unfairly deprived of his attention. Meanwhile, there are many attractions on its territory and in its immediate surroundings.

One of them is the temple of the Archangel Michael, built in the fourteenth century. The church was built in an eclectic style, which is characterized by the use of Renaissance and Gothic architectural elements. The building of the temple is located in the historic quarters of Vitoria (Spain), on the southern slope of the hill, where once was an ancient city with fortifications. At one time, the church was built on the site of an older building. The main facade of the temple faces Mateo Moraza Street. The building has a rectangular shape and is equipped with two chapels. Within its walls, a machete knife was previously kept, which was considered a symbol of the supreme power of Vitoria. Each mayor, assuming office, certainly took an oath of allegiance to his beloved city with this weapon.

Monastery of the Holy Cross

The sights of Vitoria (Spain) include the oldest monastery in the city, which was consecrated in honor of the Holy Cross. The temple is active to this day. Dominican sisters now live in the convent. The monastery includes a small temple and a building in which nuns live. This place is famous for the fact that two elements of the Crucifixion of Christ are kept on its territory.

The monastery was founded in 1511. Eleven years later, the land on which the monastery was located fell into the ownership of the Temple of Santa Domingo, which at that time was outside the fortifications. None of its parts have survived to our time, since it was demolished in the twentieth century.

In 1522 a small temple was consecrated. A little later, in 1530, influential patrons appeared at the monastery (the married couple Aguirre), who turned part of it into their residence, which left its mark on the appearance of the complex. The architecture of the monastery complex to this day arouses genuine interest among tourists.

Map Museum

One of the interesting places in Vitoria (Spain) is the Museum of Maps. His collection dates back to a private collection of ordinary playing cards that have been collected by Felix Alfaro Fournier since 1916. He was the grandson of a renowned Spanish card manufacturer. The Alava government bought the collection in 1984, declaring it a cultural heritage. And ten years later, the collection was located in the Bendanya Palace, not far from the Archaeological Museum. The building of the museum was built in the Renaissance style at the beginning of the sixteenth century. Despite the fact that the construction took place during the Renaissance, there are many elements of the late Gothic style in the architecture of the palace.

Felix Alfaro began assembling his collection in 1916 after inheriting the family business, founded in 1868. The collection was originally exhibited within the walls of the Museum of Fine Arts. But gradually the collection grew significantly and had to be moved to a new building. Currently, the museum is one of the few institutions in the world, the exposition of which is dedicated to playing cards. The collection numbers twenty thousand decks collected from all over the world. Guests of the institution can learn a lot about the history of the development of cards, starting from the fifteenth century.

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary

Cathedral of the Immaculate Virgin Mary in Vitoria (Spain) is one of the largest in the entire country. At the time the construction of the temple began, there was already a temple in the city with a very similar name. In order to distinguish them, the newer building began to be called New.

A lush neo-Gothic temple was built across from Florida Park in the modern part of the city. The local bishop insisted on its construction, since the old cathedral could no longer accommodate the entire flock. A site was allocated for the construction site on the territory of the old church. The first stone in the construction was laid in 1907. Architects from all over Spain were invited to build the cathedral. The best building materials from distant regions were brought here. After the allocated funds ended, construction stopped for as much as forty years. They returned to him only in 1946. And by 1973 the building was finished.

Fortress walls

Another interesting place worth seeing is the medieval defensive structure of Vitoria (Spain). The photo allows you to appreciate the power of the fortifications that have come down to us, which today are a tourist attraction. The walls were erected at the end of the eleventh century, one hundred years before the founding of the city itself. In that distant era, there was a small village on this place, which was the former outpost of the Kingdom of Navarre. Vitoria has always been on the way from the Castilian plateau to the northern regions of Europe. In the thirteenth century, annual fairs were held here, which attracted guests from the Iberian Peninsula.

In recent centuries, the city walls were hidden among the buildings of the old center. And only in 2001, during archaeological excavations near the Cathedral of Santa Maria, fragments of medieval defensive walls were found. After careful research, it was found that they belong to the very first fortification, which was built even before the foundation of the city. Experts believe that the wall was 900 meters long. There were built 22 guard towers. Not more than half of them have survived to this day. In 2010, a wall reconstruction project was carried out. You can see the fortifications of Vitoria during the excursion.

Weapons museum

The Vitoria Weapon Museum was created thanks to Felix Alfaro Fournier, who donated his amazing collection of weapons to the government. The institution was opened in 1966 in a renovated building of the sixteenth century, located in the historic center of the town. Currently, the guests of the museum have the opportunity to get acquainted with the exposition, which presents samples of weapons from all the lands of Alava in different centuries. Most of the items are weapons from the prehistoric era to the early twentieth century.

The first hall of the museum provides visitors with the opportunity to see the tools of the Stone Age, which are more than three thousand years old. Also here you can see objects of the Iron Age, made of iron and bronze. No less impressive are the weapons of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. From the Middle Ages, crossbows, swords, chain mail dating from the twelfth century have come down to us.

An entire hall of the museum is dedicated to firearms. Also in the exposition there is a collection of objects from Africa, Arab and Eastern countries - sabers, swords, spears, Malay daggers, muskets, swords, etc. The highlight of the entire exhibition are two samurai costumes dating from the sixteenth century.

Museum of Sacred Art

In the fourteenth century, the Old Cathedral was erected, made in the Gothic style. However, it was not fully completed at once. Its tower was erected only three centuries later. The building of the cathedral is stunningly beautiful and literally filled with the spirit of that time. Inside, it is adorned with Flemish and Gothic images of Rubens and Van Dyck. The cathedral contains many secrets. Until now, excavations are underway in it, during which they always find something interesting and new. Within its walls is the Museum of Religious Art. The new temple was erected at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its construction lasted for seventy years.

Weather in Vitoria

If you are planning to visit Vitoria, it does not hurt to get acquainted with the local climate. It is worth noting that the region experiences a high level of humidity throughout the year. There is a lot of rainfall even in the warmest months. The city is characterized by moderate temperatures.

Therefore, nothing will prevent you from seeing amazing sights. Going on a trip, it is worth inquiring about the weather in Vitoria (Spain) for 10 days in order to make sure of favorable conditions and a small amount of predicted precipitation. The best time to visit the city is from April to October.

The inhabitants of this city claim that the capital of the Basque Country, the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, is very comfortable and pleasant. His motto is "A City Made for Life".

Hiking or cycling in Vitoria-Gasteiz is available to everyone. At your disposal are specially paved paths for pedestrians or bicycles (bidegorri). They run throughout the city, linking to the Green Ring. This is more than a hundred kilometers of marked trails. And if you don't have a bike with you, you can rent one from the municipal office.

The "Green Ring" encircles the capital of the Basque Country along the perimeter. It includes 47 kilometers of paths and paths that run through the parks around the city limits: from Alegria, Armentia, Olaris, Salburua, Sabalgana, the banks of the Sadorra, Berrosteguieta and Errekaleor to Lasarte. It is a green landscape of forests, rivers and all kinds of fauna and flora.

Vitoria-Gasteiz has developed according to its surroundings and rich natural heritage. The humid lands of Salburua and the huge lagoons, a few kilometers from the center, are home to herds of deer and thousands of birds. At the Ataria Information Center you can observe them up close.

In the main city of the Basque Country, you do not need transport to travel to nature. Vitoria-Gasteiz is one of those European cities with the largest number of square meters of green space and parkland per inhabitant. It is conceived as a city for pedestrians and cyclists. This is evidenced by such walking places as El Batan, La Senda Fray Francisco Cervantes, the ascent to the Basilica of San Prudencio de Armentia, the parks of La Florida, San Martin, Arriaga, Hudimendi, "Green Ring" etc. Going on these routes at any time of the year, you will certainly enjoy the picturesque natural scenery.

Do you like hiking? To the south of the city are the Vitoria mountains. Via Mendisorroza and Berrostegueta you can reach the peaks of Saldiaran, Errogan or Arrieta. Heading north, you will follow the Badaya, Arrato and Elhea mountains.

Although Vitoria is remote from the sea, there is nevertheless a beach and water here. At the reservoirs of Ulibarri-Ganboa and Santa Engracia, you can enjoy visiting places like Landa, Erpidea, Garayo, Marieta and Legutiano, where you can sunbathe, windsurf, swim and fly kites.

In the medieval quarter of Vitoria-Gasteiz, you will experience a history that no one else has ever told you.

Inside the green shell of the city, like an almond, on a hill is the Medieval City, whose history goes back far into the depths of the centuries. The first thing that any resident of Gasteiz will advise you is to visit the Old Cathedral of Santa Maria, which is constantly undergoing restoration work, and at the same time it is open to the public.

From this cathedral, writers such as Toti Martinez de Lesea and Ken Follett drew inspiration for their works. The restoration work of the Gothic Cathedral, which has been going on for a long time, attracts tourists and history buffs, who can see how the building was built, how it grew and how modern specialists restore its unique beauty. The naves of the cathedral, its atrium, walls and triforium were visited by more than one million people during the restoration period.

Secrets of the Cathedral

Put on your safety helmet and go on a guided tour of the Basque Country with a professional guide, who will lead you through the passages and scaffolding while explaining the history of the Cathedral. Climbing the bell tower of the Cathedral offers stunning views of the Medieval Quarter. Thanks to the special play of light in the Light Portico of the Paternina Chapel, you will have the opportunity to penetrate the essence of the evolution that polychromy has undergone since the 16th century.

On a guided tour of the old town of Vitoria-Gasteiz, you can visit the Fortress Walls, Bibat (Museum of Archeology and Playing Cards) and the palaces of Escorias-Esquivel and Montehermoso without much effort, as comfortable escalators take you to the highest part of the almond-shaped Medieval Quarter ...

Social and cultural life here is characterized by high intensity and innovation.

Masters of the cultural avant-garde work in the immediate vicinity of the Old Town. One of their latest proposals is the so-called Wall Route. Along this path, you will come across facades and old walls filled with giant wall paintings by artists who have created an entire school in the European artistic avant-garde.

Pay attention to the names of the streets of the Old Town: Cuchilleria, Erreria, Pintoreria, Correria ... They reflect the activities of a particular craft guild (respectively, cutters, blacksmiths, dyers, messengers ...). On the first Saturday of every month, a market is held here with the participation of artisans and traders from the area who display their wares on the street.

The area is home to splendid Renaissance palaces such as Bendanha Casa del Cordon, outposts, the most famous among them Portalon, which now houses a famous restaurant and the lively Piazza di Brulleria, Campiglio and Machete.

The last of these squares, open towards the Gastay district of Ensanche, is a quiet place, which received its name from the oath taken by the Procurator-General when taking office. The oath was taken on a machete, which also threatened to cut off his head if he did not perform his duties properly. Is this why Vitoria has been such a thriving city for centuries?

If you are interested in contemporary art, the Basque Center-Museum of Contemporary Art Artium is located near the Medieval Quarter. This cultural institution collects, produces, distributes and researches contemporary art. The museum, housed in a building of unique architecture, houses an extensive collection of Basque and international avant-garde artists.

Ensanche - a new area that unites centuries

Virgen Blanca Square is located in the heart of the capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. It is there that Celedon, the main character of the holiday that takes place on August 4, arrives: he hangs over the tower of San Miguel, thereby announcing the beginning of the "Big Week". You will see the bronze sculpture of Seledon on the balustrade of this church and will be able to take pictures near it. Nearby is the Plaza de España, where the city hall is located. This place with terraces and covered galleries is especially popular with the locals.

From the square begins Dato - the main street of Vitoria-Gasteiz, a pedestrian and shopping area, where the figure of the "Traveler" stands out. There are also two shops of the famous confectionery Goya, an integral part of the history of the city. It is unlikely that you will be able to resist their goshua, chuchitos, Gasteiz cake, chocolate truffles, basquites and neskits, which are a great gift from the capital of the Basque Country.

Nearby are the 19th century New Cathedral, the Basque Parliament next to Florida Park, the Basque French-style Post Office and the Palace of Deputies.

The path to the relics of St. James - Camino de Santiago passes through Vitoria-Gasteiz

The path to the relics of St. James passes through the very center of the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Heading from the Sanctuary of Estibalis through the Old Town and St. Peter's Church to the Basilica of Armentia, modern pilgrims get to know the medieval city. There are special signs for them on the streets and squares.

You can take a walk around the city and listen to its stories by ordering an excursion with a professional guide in the Basque Country Elena Vivas Garcia.