Many tourists ask themselves — when traveling in the Basque Country, does it make sense to allocate time to visit the capital? Vitoria, Spain is undoubtedly an interesting city that deserves attention.
General information
Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain is a spacious city decorated with parks, green alleys and ancient squares. Unfortunately, the capital of the Basque Country, as a rule, remains in the shadow of modern Bilbao, however, everyone who finds themselves in Vitoria Gasteiz comes to the conclusion — the city deserves the closest attention and here’s why:
- there is an old quarter with a huge number of medieval buildings;
- the art museum houses unique original paintings;
- the city is bustling with life — festivals, cultural events, bars and restaurants are regularly held.
Vitoria Gasteiz is the second most populous Basque city after Bilbao. The settlement was founded by the King of Navarre as a defensive structure at the end of the 12th century. By the middle of the 15th century, Vitoria-Gasteiz received the status of a city.
Interesting fact! The most significant and significant fact in the history of the city is the battle during the Pyrenean War, as a result of which the Spaniards completely regained control of the city. In honor of the battle, a monument to Independence was erected on the city square.
In May 1980, it was decided to grant Vitoria-Gasteiz the status of the capital of the Basque Country.
It is noteworthy that the historical center of the city is remarkably preserved, it is located on a hill, to the top of which you can climb two escalators or stairs. The ascent starts from Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, which looks so bright surrounded by ancient buildings that it gives the impression of the main one in the city. However, in the neighborhood there is a really huge area of Spain. The ascent ends at the Church of San Miguel, still at the top there is a surviving fragment of the fortress structure, and on the opposite edge of the hill is the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The hilltop walk ends at Burulleria Square. If you use the escalator to descend, you will find yourself next to the oldest church in San Pedro, dating back to the 14th century.
Useful to know! Commuter trains run between the seaside town of San Sebastian and Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain (travel time is about one and a half hours, cost from 12 € to 20 €). It is faster and cheaper to get there by bus — the journey takes an hour and a quarter, the ticket costs 7 €.
Attractions in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Despite the fact that the city has no world-class attractions, but walking here is a real pleasure, especially if you are attracted to the history of the Middle Ages. It is difficult to describe all the important places in the city. We have identified the top 6 attractions of Vitoria-Gasteiz that you must visit to experience the “taste” and atmosphere of the city.
Cathedral of Santa Maria
The structure is located on the top of a hill, it is believed that the city began to grow from here. It was built in the period from the 12th to the 14th centuries and still admires the Gothic, impressive walls-originally they served a defensive function.
Interesting fact! Today, the building is often renovated, but even during the reconstruction of the temple is not closed, tourists can go inside, inspect the structure as part of the tour. No entry is allowed without a guided tour.
The building is quite impressive in size, located in the central part of the city and surrounded by houses, so it is not easy to fully assess its scale. The building is 44 m high, and there is also a bell tower 90 m high. Entrance to the territory of the attraction is possible through several gates: the main “Lviv Gate”, the Clock Gate and several auxiliary ones.
The interior of the cathedral is quite rich, the chapels were built in different historical eras, it is not surprising that completely different styles have been preserved here-Baroque, Renaissance, Gothic, mudejar. Undoubtedly, the carved bas-reliefs, colored stained glass windows, as well as an exhibition of unique paintings by famous masters deserve attention.
Interesting fact! The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Practical information:
- admission costs 10 euros, the price includes an audio guide, available in Russian;
- if you want to climb the bell tower, you will have to pay 12 euros;
- there is a souvenir shop inside;
- Entrance through the Clock Gate is free, but you can’t go inside;
- set aside 2-3 hours for each session.
Cathedral of the Virgin Mary
Vitoria Gasteiz in Spain is often called the city of two cathedrals. The Church of the Virgin Mary is a neo-Gothic building, by the way, it is one of the last major religious buildings in Spain. The main attraction of the cathedral is the richness of decoration. On the territory there is a Diocesan Museum, where works of sacred art by local masters are presented.
The new church is the second largest in Spain, with a capacity of 16,000 people. At first glance, it seems that the building is more than a hundred years old, but it was built in the 20th century. The decision to build it was made when the old cathedral could not accommodate all the residents of the city. The construction work involved craftsmen not only from Spain, but also foreigners. Granite and marble were used. The construction site was frozen for 40 years due to lack of funds, but in 1946 work resumed, and in the fall of the same year the building was consecrated.
Practical information:
- you can visit the landmark of Vitoria in Spain every day from 10-00 to 18-30, siesta from 14-00 to 16-00, on weekends the cathedral is open until 14-00;
- services: 9-00, 12-30, 19-30-weekdays, weekends-10-30, 11-30, 12-30, 19-30.
See also: The Solomon Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art is the main attraction in Bilbao.
White Mother of God Square
Perhaps one of the most recognizable squares in the city, locals and tourists almost unanimously agree that this is an extremely beautiful place in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Every year, at the end of summer, one of the most ambitious holidays begins here.
The sculpture La Batalla Vitoria is installed in the center in honor of a significant event for the city — in 2012, Vitoria-Gasteiz received the status of “Green Capital of Europe”.
Also on the square is a monument commemorating the victory of the British over the French. However, the influence of French culture is still preserved in the architecture of the city. Here you can often find typical for France attics, roofs, balconies.
Another attraction in the square is the Church of San Miguel, next to it stands a sculpture of a Basque peasant in a traditional headdress. Of course, the square, as one of the most famous tourist places, has a huge number of cafes, restaurants and bars.
Interesting fact! A fountain system is installed underground, so be careful — the water flow appears unexpectedly.
Useful to know! Burgos is a 1.5-hour drive from Vitoria. It houses the Cathedral, recognized as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Find out why you should see it in this article.
Florida State Park
The attraction is located on the border between the Old and New City, namely near the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary. The park is small and has a lot of things on its territory — sculptures, benches, gazebos, cafes, walking paths, artificial reservoirs.
Cultural events and concerts are often held in the park. And on other days, it is a quiet, peaceful place for walking and relaxing.
Alava Fournier Map Museum
The collection of cards was collected from the 16th century by the grandson of a famous Spanish manufacturer of playing cards, it is not surprising that here are unique decks. At the end of the last century, the collection was bought by the government of Alava and awarded the status of cultural heritage. Soon the exhibition was displayed in the Bendanya Palace building, located next to the Archaeological Museum.
The exhibition is unique, as there are no analogues in the world. In addition to playing cards, here you can learn interesting facts about them and various games, as well as see the equipment for making them. The collection includes more than 20 thousand maps of various styles and themes.
Useful to know! Admission to the museum is free, so it’s definitely worth a visit. There are souvenir shops nearby where you can buy an unusual deck of cards.
New Square
Despite the fact that the square is called New, it appeared more than two hundred years ago on the site of the old one. This is a large enclosed space surrounded by houses. That’s why it feels like you’re in a well. On the ground floors of the buildings there are cafes, bars, here you can taste pintxos, local wine-chacoli. In the warmer months, the tables are taken out directly to the street, so you can sit and admire the design of the square and its details. The main attractions in the square are the Royal Basque Language Academy, and on Sundays you can visit the flea market.
Accommodation, where to stay
The city of Vitoria is small and compact, so if you choose a place to live in the historical area, you will not have to use public transport, as all the significant and most interesting sights are within walking distance.
Only at first glance, the city seems quiet, calm, in fact, there are noisy bars and busy streets here, so when choosing a hotel, pay attention to the neighboring establishments and the location of the windows. Many tourists and visitors of the city prefer to stay in the park – it is quiet here, there is a wonderful nature around.
If you are planning a day trip to Vitoria Gaites in Spain, pay attention to hotels located near the bus station, as most tourists use bus routes to travel around the Basque Country. The train station is located in the center of the historical part of the city.
Accommodation in the cheapest hostel will cost 50€, and in an apartment for two – 55€. The price of a double room in a three — star hotel starts from 81€.
Interesting fact! Seasonal changes in the cost of housing are minimal.
Public transport links
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact city, so the main attractions are easy, and most importantly, pleasant to get around on foot. At the same time, many streets are pedestrian. Tourists note a huge number of cyclists, by the way, there are many bike rental points and bike paths are equipped.
Useful to know! There are several free two-wheeler rental sites in Vitoria-Ghosn. Exact addresses can be found at the tourist office.
If you are planning trips to the city’s surroundings, it is appropriate to take a bus. The transport network is extensive and extensive, covering all areas and even the suburb of Vitoria-Gaites.
The city of Vitoria (Spain) is included in the list of the greenest in Europe – one local resident accounts for the largest number of green spaces. Initially, the locality was planned for walking and bicyclists. For this reason, there are many parks in Vitoria Gasteiz that adorn ancient architectural landmarks.
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