Vitoria – Gasteiz is not as famous as larger cities in Spain, but it is worth coming here, first of all, to see the wonderful monuments. The Old Town of Vitoria-Gasteiz is an example of exquisitely preserved medieval architecture. The wonderful green ring is a green huge part of nature in the city, for which it has been awarded. I invite you to explore!
Vitoria (Vitoria-Gasteiz) is a city in northern Spain and the capital of the province of Araba and the autonomous community of the Basque Country.
Vitoria Old Town
Vitoria is a beautiful old town offering many attractions, thanks to which you can spend a very interesting day there. There you will find romantic streets and squares with historic churches, palaces, lots of greenery and countless bars serving regional gastronomy. Vitoria’s main square is Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, which is located between its old town and the Ensanche district, founded in the 19th century.
The most important events, concerts, festivals and holidays are organized in the square. In the center of the square there is a large monument dedicated to the Battle of Vitoria (1813), which resulted in the defeat of the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops in Spain. The Gothic church of San Miguel dominates the square. Sightseeing walks during the day are wonderful, but at night you will discover the magic of the Old Town.
Other attractions of the old town: Palacio de Augustin-Zulueta, which currently houses the Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes), Casa del Cordón and its spectacular façade, Palacio de Villasuso, Mirador de los Arquillos viewpoint.
Catedral de Santa María
The Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Vitoria. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.
Catedral de María Inmaculada
La Catedral de Nuestra Señora Inmaculada, o Catedral Nueva, es el edificio neogótico más importante de Vitoria. Está ubicado frente al parque Florida. Cuando Santa María no estaba en buenas condiciones y se quedó pequeña para acomodar a todos, en 1904 se inició la construcción de una nueva catedral y la gran inauguración tuvo lugar en 1969. El templo tiene planta de cruz latina, cinco naves, girola y cripta. También cuenta con esculturas de gran valor, la mayoría de ellas se encuentran en la cripta. El Museo Diocesano de Arte Sacro de Álava está ubicado en la girola de la catedral.
Palacio de Bendaña
There is also a Bendaña Palace in the old town – the building was erected in the 16th century. Its façade resembles medieval, fortified houses and contains Gothic decorative elements. An interesting fact is that the interior of the Palacio de Bendaña is today the seat of the Playing Card Museum of the Spanish brand Fournier. Inside you will find about 250 different card sets, consisting of a total of 1,500 cards! This unusual place allows you to see how the first playing cards were created and what tools and techniques were used for this purpose.
Artium Museum
Artum Museum characterizes the works of artists created from the 1950s to the present day. Temporary exhibitions dedicated to different generations of Spanish and international artists are also organized here. Most of the exhibition space is below ground level. Outside, you can see works by Richard Serra, Jorge Oteiza and Eduardo Chillida. Artium Museoa is a kind of basement museum where the most valuable contents are not visible at first glance. The museum is suitable for people of all ages.
Vitoria’s Green Ring
Vitoria as the green capital of Europe – In 2012, the European Commission awarded the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz the title of Green Capital of Europe. The reason was the large amount of green areas available in this place. They surround the entire city, creating the so-called Green Ring. Beautiful natural landscapes delight the eyes of tourists and city residents. A great place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Parque de La Florida
La Florida Garden is located in the heart of the city and is the most characteristic park in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Created in 1820, it was designed in the style of romantic French gardens of that time, conveying the impression of a larger area thanks to an almost labyrinthine system of paths that run through unimaginable spaces, such as a grotto, a waterfall, a stream, a bandstand, a lover’s bench.
Hotels
Silken Ciudad de Vitoria
Best Hotels in Vitoria:
- Silken Ciudad de Vitoria
- NH Canciller Ayala Vitoria
- Green City Bark
- Libere Vitoria
- NIREA HOTEL
