Tourist information - Vitoria
Vitoria-Gasteiz, founded towards the end of the 12th century, is today a city of exceptional urban design. The Basque capital incorporates a medieval city centre, in which it is possible to find countless places of great traditional flavour, like Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (White Virgin Square), as well as historical structures such as cathedral of Santa María. From here, the city harmonically unfolds into the Romantic new suburbs, a network of wide avenues, gardens, along with buildings that are a reminder of the grandeur and stateliness of Vitoria.
In addition, Vitoria enjoys an intense cultural life, as evidenced year after year by its most renowned event: the Jazz Festival. Its traditional, scrumptious recipes -based on fresh orchard products as well as always accompanied by a unique Basque wine- will not disappoint.
Present day Vitoria was established on a small hill in 1181 by Navarrese King Sancho VI, under the name of Nueva Victoria. Later on, in 1200, this fortified town went to the Castilian monarch Alfonso VIII. Soon, a prospering vocation for crafts began to emerge in the village. In the 15th century, Juan II of Castile granted Vitoria the title of city. Through the 18th along with 19th centuries, the expansion of the city into the new suburbs took place.
The Basque capital reveals a medieval quarter where it is possible to find the most charming little corners, gardens, along with tree-lined boulevards, which make the capital of Alava an outstanding green space that does not disturb the careful urban layout, where medieval streets harmoniously intermingle with Renaissance palaces, along with Neoclassical churches. The nerve centre of the city is Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (the White Virgen Square), presided over by the Battle of Vitoria monument. It is as well the site of the church of San Miguel, which houses the image of the White Virgin, the city's patron saint. The present building dates in between the 14th as well as 16th centuries, as evidenced by the mixture of Gothic along with Renaissance elements. The church has a rectangular floor-plan, with three naves crowned with flamboyant Gothic ribs, and also a high reredos, created by Gregorio Fernández.
The Gothic portico of San Miguel leads to the estate of Los Arquillos, an arcaded walk that connects the historic quarter with the nineteenth-century suburbs. We are in front of the church of Saint Vincent, as well as the Palace of Villa Suso (16th century), situated in Plaza del Machete, place where traditionally city-council officials were sworn in.
The cathedral of Santa María, also known as the Old Cathedral, was erected at the highest part of the city. The construction of this impressive Gothic temple began at the 13th century, as well as continued into the 14th. Later remodelling was done as the city progressed. In 1496, the church became a collegiate church, until finally, in 1861, it achieved the rank of cathedral. The imposing building, declared Historic-Artistic Monument, features a pronounced Latin cross floor-plan, crowned with ogive vaults, along with a spectacular ambulatory. From the exterior, we could explore the monumental sculptures of the fourteenth-century main front, very worthy of mention; the sculpture around the central front, is dedicated to the Virgin; the left front isdedicated to San Gil, while the right front depicts the Last Judgement, and Santiago the Apostle.
The surrounding area of the cathedral holds the most ancient streets of the city, as revealed by their guild names: "Cuchillería" (Cutlers), "Herrería" (Blacksmiths), "Correría" (Couriers), etc. Taking a stroll around this area, we will see the most significant Renaissance palaces around the capital. On Herrería street we will see the Escoriaza-Esquibel palace, with its gorgeous plateresque courtyard, as well as the Urbina Zárate palace; on Correría, we will admire the Portalón (Large Doorway), the House of Maturana-Verástegui, as well as the Tower of Anda; finally, on Cuchillería, we find the Palace of Bendaña (16th century), as well as Casa del Cordón, declared Historic-Artistic Monument. This old trading house from the Low Middle Ages, (established within the 15th century), features a Gothic façade with two pointed arches. Before leaving the old quarter, admire the Palace of Floral de Álava, home to the City Council, built in the 19th century, as well as the slender Tower of Doña Otxanda, the present site of the Natural Science Museum. This fortified structure, created around the 15th century on top of an older one, was commissioned by Andrés Martínez de Iruña, and Catalina de Álava. The New Suburbs
Around the historical quarter, the rationalist Vitoria, the Vitoria of the nineteenth-century expansion, unfolds. At the new suburbs that arose as being a consequence of this expansion, we find the square Plaza de los Fueros , designed by the prestigious Basque artist Eduardo Chillida through the '80s. Further ahead we will discover the cathedral of María Inmaculada, also called New Cathedral, constructed at the early 20th century, following a Neogothic style. Near the temple, we will see the Basque Parliament (19th century), the site of the present autonomous parliament.
Both buildings flank the gates to the central Florida Park, one of the most emblematic at the city. It was developed back in 1820, and it is remarkable for the wide variety of plant species that it houses. Other green spaces located in the capital include the Judizmendi Park, situated on top of an old Jewish cemetery, and also the San Juan de Arriaga Park, the largest around the city. One of the many small palaces in this Romantic city, it is worthy of it to stop before the Augusti Palace, the place to find the Museum of Fine Arts. This eclectic building, constructed in 1912, has been declared Historic-Artistic Monument. The Palace of Ajuria Enea, also from the beginning of the 20th century, is a clear example of Basque stately architecture, and it is presently the site of the Basque Government.
Vitoria enjoys an intense cultural life. Its extensive musical tradition shows in the Vitoria Jazz Festival. Every year in July, internationally acclaimed musicians bring one of the most varied styles to the Basque capital, brightening the streets of Vitoria for a week. An excellent reason to come and uncover the charm of the capital of Alava.
The Parador de Argómaniz (Argomaniz Inn), a spectacular Renaissance palace, is found only 12 kilometres away from Vitoria-Gasteiz. There you can sample some of the most typical dishes of the region, like the perretxikos (a kind of mushroom), the snails with sauce, along with the goxua (a sponge cake with whipped cream and caramel). The Vitoria-style beans (habas a la vitoriana), the vegetable stew (menestra de verduras), the fried peppers (fritada de pimientos), as well as the white haricot bean stew (alubias pochas) are some of the specialities that make up this rich, traditional cuisine. The region of Rioja Alavesa produces excellent wines, which are included around the Designation of Origin - Rioja.
The Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela has left a particular artistic mark in the province. The Zalduondo country house, home to the Ethnographic Museum, is the first stop of the pilgrimage in Alavan territory. Through this town we could admire the Lazarraga Renaissance palace, and the parish church. Erected at the vicinity of Eguilaz, the Dolmen of Aizkomendi is the megalithic compounds of the Basque Country. The journey continues to Salvatierra, a medieval village with remains of the old wall, as well as large Renaissance houses; worthy of mention are the churches of San Juan along with Santa María. Upon reaching Alegría along with Vitoria-Gasteiz, the path continues to Domingo de la Calzada, around the Rioja territory.
The natural heritage of Álava is tremendously diverse. This fact is proven by the amount of protected spaces that it has, among which it is worth mentioning the Valderejo Nature Reserves, to the west of the province, the Izki Nature Reserve, which preserves one of the most extensive melojo-oak forests, along with the Área de Gorbeia Nature Reserve, located at the boundary between the and also Biscay, considered to be one of the biggest natural tourist interesting attractions within the Basque Country.
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