| Vitoria Vitoria-Gasteiz | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Basque country | |
| Territory | Álava | |
| Altitude | 525 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 276.8 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 249.176 (2018 estimate) | |
| Name inhabitants | Vitorian/to gasteiztar | |
| Prefix tel | 34 94 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 01001-01080 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | Madonna of the Snow (Virgen Blanca) | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Vitoria (In Basque: Gasteiz; officially: Vitoria-Gasteiz) is the capital of the autonomous community of Basque country in Spain.
To know
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the political capital of the Basque country from May 20, 1980. Lo Spanish it is the main language, but knowledge of Basque is common. L'English it is not widely spoken, except by young people.
When to go
A city with a climate that is not too cold in winter and hot in summer, it can be visited at any time of the year.
How to orient yourself
Vitoria: full screen map.How to get
By plane
The city has a small airport but it is easier for you to land at Bilbao and then continue by public transport or a rental car.
On the train
- 1 Vitoria-Gasteiz station. The station is located on the connecting line Madrid with Irún is Hendaye. If you come from Barcelona or Zaragoza it is advisable to take a train to Miranda de Ebro and get on a bus from there.
By bus
- 2 Suburban bus station (Estación de Autobuses de Vitoria).
How to get around
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a very small city. Virtually everything you want to see is within walking distance. If you don't feel like walking, there are several other ways to get around.
By public transport
Tuvisa indicates city buses. There are several lines and the maps can always be consulted in official site of the city.
By taxi
There are several companies:
- Iberia taxi
- Radio Taxi Gasteiz, Santa Mª, 9-3º, ☎ 34 945 27 35 00, @[email protected].
- Patxi Taxi, ☎ 34 656 710 167, @[email protected].
By bike
It is possible to rent bicycles in different points of the city as described in city council site.
What see
The city has an old historic center where most of the streets still bear the medieval name of the works that once stood in each of the streets (Herrería, Zapatería, etc.). In the historic center there is the Cathedral of Santa María, one of the most important attractions. It is possible to take guided tours and it is advisable to book through the web page of the Cathedral itself. There are also museums and art galleries.
Religious architectures
- 1 Cathedral of Santa Maria (Cathedral of Santa María), Santa Maria Plaza.
- 2 Cathedral of Mary Immaculate (Catedral de María Inmaculada).
- 3 Church of St. Peter the Apostle (Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol).
- 4 Church of San Michele Arcangelo (Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel).
- 5 Church of San Vincenzo martire (Iglesia de San Vicente Mártir).
- 6 Church of Carmen (Iglesia del Carmen).
- 7 Basilica of San Prudencio da Armentia (Basílica de San Prudencio de Armentia).
- 8 Convent of Sant'Antonio (Convent of San Antonio).
- 9 Convent of the Holy Cross (Convento de Santa Cruz).
Civil and military architectures
- 10 Casa del Cordón.
- 11 Escoriaza-Esquivel Palace.
- 12 Montehermoso Palace (Palacio de Montehermoso).
- 13 Ajuria Enea Palace.
- 14 Torre de doña Ochanda.
- 15 Abechuco Bridge (Puente de Abechuco).
Museums
- 16 Artium Museum, Calle Francia 24. Basque Museum of Contemporary Art.
- 17 Museum of Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum), Paseo Fray Francisco, 8, @'[email protected]'.
- 18 Fournier de Naipes Museum (Playing Cards Museum), Calle Cuchillería 54 (Palacio de Bendaña), @[email protected]. Interesting museum dedicated to playing cards throughout history and in different countries, both in terms of manufacture and theme. It is possible to admire thousands of playing cards (ancient, taurine, satirical, various types of tarot), with particular attention to the Spanish ones.
- Muralístico de Vitoria-Gasteiz itinerary (IMVG), Correría 101, ☎ 34 94 633-184-457.
4 Euros. Guided tours of "La Ciudad Pintada", a public street art gallery created by the community. On Fridays at 6.00pm and Saturdays at 11.30am or with a special offer to discover the secrets that these monumental murals hide and see the old city through the eyes and art of its inhabitants.
4 Euros. Guided tours of "La Ciudad Pintada", a public street art gallery created by the community. On Fridays at 6.00pm and Saturdays at 11.30am or with a special offer to discover the secrets that these monumental murals hide and see the old city through the eyes and art of its inhabitants.Events and parties
- San Prudencio.
Night of 27 April and day 28 April. On the eve, groups of trumpet players, clarinetists and drummers meet in the Plaza de la Provincia and perform in an open-air concert. Following a parade of drummers and "txistu" players through the city center. 28 °. Visit to the church of San Prudencio di Armentia. Eat scrambled perretxikos (local mushrooms) and snails. Extremely popular. - 3 Festival de Jazz de Vitoria Gasteiz. In July. Unmissable appointment for music lovers. The festival hosts some of the greatest artists in the world.
- Fiestas de La Blanca. August 4-11.
Night of 27 April and day 28 April. On the eve, groups of trumpet players, clarinetists and drummers meet in the Plaza de la Provincia and perform in an open-air concert. Following a parade of drummers and "txistu" players through the city center. 28 °. Visit to the church of San Prudencio di Armentia. Eat scrambled perretxikos (local mushrooms) and snails. Extremely popular.What to do
Located in the south of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz is in a strategic position: to the north, just 66 km away is the city of Bilbao, and at 114 km the beautiful city of San Sebastian. The southern part of the Alava province is called La Rioja Alavesa, where you can taste one of the best red wines in the world. There are a lot of sightseeing tours dedicated to food and wine, not to be missed if you are passionate. The province located south of Alava is La Rioja, where the cultivation of wine is one of the most important attractions.
The best thing to do, however, is to walk around the historic center, there is always something to do.
Sport
If you are a football fan then you can try going to a game of Deportivo Alavés, the city team, which plays in the Spanish Liga, the country's top football league. The team plays at the Estadio Mendizorrotza.
The other citizen pride is the Saski Baskonia, a basketball team that plays in the top Spanish league and also in the Euroleague. Baskonia plays in the Fernando Buesa Arena, a venue with over 10,000 seats.
Shopping
How to have fun
Shows
- Principal Theater.
Night clubs
As in other cities of the Basque Country, the nightlife is centered around the old medieval area of the city or Viejo helmet where there is a bar every few meters. Similarly styled bars tend to be around the same area.
- Cuchilleria (La Cuchi) - it could be said that this is the most "Basque" street in the city. Rock is played in the bars and there are several posters and objects that praise Basque culture and land (and sometimes even ETA).
- Zapateria (La Zapa) - Probably the most heterogeneous street. Most bars are commercially successful, but the best punk and classic-rock bars can also be found here. As in Cuchi, customers of all ages can be found.
- Pintoria (La Pinto) - Mainly commercial and electronic music bars for teenagers. A couple of heavy-metal and hard-rock bars can also be found.
- Cuesta - The street where Cuchi and Pinto start. There are various bars of all kinds here, but the patrons are usually a little older than on other streets (ages 20 to over 30).
- Given - The main street of Vitoria. More expensive and with more elegant bars. There are people of all ages, but it is easier to find the over 40s, 50s or 60s here than in other areas of the center.
Where to eat
Basque cuisine is excellent and also in Vitoria you will find numerous bars where you can sip a glass of wine and taste the local delicacies. THE pintxos or pinchos they are similar to normal Spanish tapas and even more so to cicheti Venetians.
Average prices
- Saburdi, Calle Dato. One of the most famous bars in Vitoria-Gasteiz. You will find a great variety of tapas and more everything is of the highest quality. The "pancito con jamon" is excellent.
- Usokari, Calle Dato, 25 (Near Saburdi). Same owners as Saburdi, but with very different things. Lots of pintxos.
- Sagartoki, Calle Prado, 18. Awarded as the best Spanish pintxos bar in 2006. Creative pintxos, don't miss the Omelet pincho.
- Toloño, Cuesta San Francisco. Known for the excellent quality of its products.
Where stay
Average prices
- Given hotel, Calle Dato, 28. A bargain in the city center. The rooms are basic, suitable for the 2-star category, but clean and well-equipped, and the common areas are striking for their original display of art nouveau objects and decorations.
- [link not working]Almoneda hotels, Calle Florida, 7. Medium sized hotel in the city center with warm and friendly staff.
- 1 Ondoloin apartments, Rioja street, 15, ☎ 34657738379. 75. Check in: 13:30, check-out: 11:00. Accommodation in apartments (lofts) of 45 square meters located in Rioja street. 2nd floor in a very quiet apartment house. 2 apartments, total capacity: 7 people. Fully furnished apartments suitable for 2, 3 or 4 people. Located in the main area for tapas, bars and restaurants in Vitoria. 5 minutes walk from Virgen Blanca square, the medieval city, La Florida Park and the Artium museum. 10 minutes walk from the historic cathedral of Santa María, close to the universities.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- Bilbao - 66 km north.
- San Sebastián
- Madrid - Reachable by train in less than 2 hours.
Useful information
- Touristic office, Plaza General Loma 1. Mon-Sun 9: 00-19: 00.
