VITORIA - GASTEIZ

View of Vitoria
Vitoria

Vitoria is Alava`s and the Basque Country`s capital. It is located in the centre of the Alava plain between the mountain ranges of Badaya, Encía and Urbasa and the hills of Villareal. Agricultural market in old times, it now has an intense commercial activity in various fields: agricultural machinery, assembly and production of lorries and vans, simple tools and machinery, furniture, material related to hunting and armory, manufacturing of playing cards, liquors, processed cold meats, etc.

According to tradition, the foundation of Vitoria is due to Leovigildo who built the Vitoriaco fortress to refrain the Vascons, in the year 581. But it seems to be more certain that the original nucleus was the village of Gastéis, on which Sancho de Navarra founded the town in 1181.

Places of interest

Vitoria/Gasteiz (name in Basque), is especially interesting not only for being an ancient city but because it is also a modern city. It is an example of orderly and harmonious development between urban planning, architecture and green areas. A pleasant city for the citizen and the visitor that offers interesting and unsuspected aspects.

As it was mentioned before Vitoria is Euskadi`s (Basque Country) capital and also the city where Ajuria Enea, the lehendakari`s (President of the Basque Autonomous Community) palace-residence was built and where the headquarters of the Basque Government are located. In addition to its important museums network the capital of Alava also offers numerous possibilities to its visitors. Starting with the Cathedral of Santa María, Gothic monument of the XIVth century that shelters in the interior frescos by artists like Van Dyck, Rubens or Caravaggio, continuing in the Casco Viejo (Old Town Centre), the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (Square), which offers the most impacting image because of its luminosity, the Correría, guild area recycled into a modern sanctuary of expert antique dealers, exhibition galleries and gift shops, the pedestrian Dato street, parisian style spot, very urban, without forgetting the beautiful and great architectonically valueable buildings as Villa Sofía and the Casa de Rudesindo Zuloaga (Rudesindo Zuloaga`s Home) and the Parque de La Florida (Park), most genuine reflection of the Vitoria of the XIXth century. A visit that should be taken into account when in Vitoria is the Sanctuary of Santa María de Estíbaliz, Alava`s patroness saint, located on a hill at the outskirts of the city.

Tours around

Llodio is the second most populated centre in Alava. Its proximity to Bilbao and the peculiarities of Alava`s statutory régime made of this town an important industrial nucleus. Even its urban planning brings to our minds that of the Nervión River region, maybe because it is located inside the Cantabrian Region. The Basque Museum of Gastronomy is located in this town, a good visit for those who are gourmets.

Amurrio is located in the Tierra de Ayala in Alava and is very well known for its special statutory privileges. The Temple of the Asunción, with a Gothic vault, Romanesque façade and a Renaissance style altarpiece and the Ethnographic Museum of Félix are also a must. Moreover, among the treasures of this town dedicated to the metallurgy industry are the Ugarte-Mariaca Palace and the ancestral homes of Cejudo and Larrako.

Salvatierra is located on a hill and preserves its medieval style layout. It has around 4000 inhabitants and its biggest treasure is the Gothic Church of Santa María. In its interior you can admire the Isabelline choir with medallions with Carlos Vth`s coat of arms. The prehistoric dolmen named "Sorginetxe" or House of the Witches should also be visited.

Armentia was the seat of the Episcopal Palace. The church of San Prudencio, Romanesque art, is visited every year on the day of the Saint that gives its name to the temple by the people from Alava in a pilgrimage of great tradition. Another must in Armentia is the House of Bishop Díaz de Espada y Landa, known as the house of San Prudencio, of Neoclassic style.

Links:

Services Directory

Hotels:

HOTEL SILKEN CIUDAD DE VITORIA ****
Portal de Castilla 8
Vitoria
+34945141100
www.hoteles-silken.com/vitoria.htm
149 rooms

HOTEL NH CANCILLER AYALA ****
Ramón y Cajal 5
Vitoria
+34945130000
www.nh-hoteles.com
185 rooms

HOTEL GENERAL ÁLAVA ***
Avenida de Gastéis, 79
Vitoria
+34945222200
www.ipmoser.com/generalalava.htm
114 rooms

BARCELÓ HOTEL GASTEIZ ****
Avenida de Gasteiz 45
Vitoria
+34945228100
www.barceloclavelhoteles.com/gasteiz.htm
150rooms

HOTEL ALMONEDA ***
Florida 7, Bajo
Vitoria
+34945154084
25 rooms

Museums:

ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE ARQUEOLOGÍA)
Correría,116
Vitoria.
Telephone: 945 18 19 22
Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 14:00h. and from 16:00 to 18:30h.
Saturdays: 10:00 a 14:00h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11:00 to 14:00h.
Closed on Mondays.
Free Admission.

FINE ARTS MUSEUM
(MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES)
Paseo Fray Francisco de Vitoria, 8
Vitoria
Telephone: 945 18 19 18 | Fax. 945 18 19 19
Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 a14h.
Saturdays: 10:00 a14:00h.
Sundays and public holidays 11:00 a14:00h.
Closed on Mondays.
Free Admission.

FOURNIER PLAYING CARDS MUSEUM
(MUSEO FOURNIER DE NAIPES)
Palacio de Bendaña
C/Cuchillería
Vitoria
Telephone: 945181920
Visiting Hours: Tuesday to Friday: 10-140h., 16-18.30 h.
Saturdays: 10-14 h.
Sundays and public holidays: 11-14 h.
Closed on Mondays.
Free Admission.

ARTIUM CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
(MUSEO ARTIUM DE ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO)
Francia 24
01002, Vitoria
Telephone: 945209000
www.artium.org


EPHIALTE. MUNICIPAL ICONOGRAPHIC STUDIES INSTITUTE
(INSTITUTO MUNICIPAL DE ESTUDIOS ICONOGRÁFICOS)
Marqués de Urquijo, 18 bis
Vitoria
Telephone: 945 16 15 02
Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 10:00 to13:00h. and from 17:00 to 20:00h.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Emergency:

Emergency Coordination 112
Ambulances: Cruz Roja (Red Cross) 945222222
DYA 945281020
(Assistance on the Road Association)
Txagorritxu Hospital 945007000
Sagrado Apóstol Hospital 945007600

Restaurants:

ARKUPE
Adress: Mateo Moraza, 13. 01001 Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava).
Tfno: 945230080
Price: 33/45 euros.
Menu: 52 euros.

EL CLARETE
Adress: Cercas Bajas, 18. 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava).
Telephone: 945263874
Price: 30/42 euros.

DOS HERMANAS
Adress: Madre Vedruna, 10. 01008 Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava).
Telephone: 945132934.
Price: 36/48 euros.

ASADOR ORIO
Adress: Felicias Olave, 3. 01007 Vitoria.
Telephone: 945148300.
Price: 36/45 euros.

ZALDIARAN
Adress: Avda. Gasteiz, 21, 01008-Vitoria.
Telephone: 945134822
Price: 42/62 euros.
Menu: 45 euros

IKEA
Adress: Portal de Castilla, 27. 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava)
Telephone: 945144747
Price: 42/60 eruos.

Transports:

Buses
URBAN BUSUES
Tuvisa
Telephone: 945161570

LONG DISTANCE BUSESE
Los Herranz Station
Telephone: 945258400

(Companies)
La Unión 945264626
Vitoria-Bilbao
Vitoria-Llodio
Vitoria-Amurrio
Continental Auto 945258907/ 945286466
Vitoria-Logroño
Vitoria-La Guardia
Vitoria-Madrid
Vitoria-San Sebastián
Bilmanbus 945277190
Vitoria-Benidorm
Turytrans-La Burundesa 945255509
Vitoria-Santander
Vitoria-Barcelona
Vitoria-Pamplona
Vitoria-San Sebastián
Vitoria-Zaragoza
Vitoria-Salvatierra
Autobuese Barredo 947335358
Vitoria-Miranda de Ebro
Eurobus 902119699
Vitoria-Andalucía
Irún-Andalucía
Transportes PESA 902101210
Vitoria-San Sebastián
Vitoria-Eibar
Vitoria-Berfara
Vitoria-Mondragón

Trains
LONG DISTANCE TRAINS
RENFE 902240202
Dato s/n
Vitoria
DESTINATIONS: Madrid, Hendaya, Alsasua, Pamplona, San Sebastián-Irún, Valladolid, Miranda, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Salamanca, Lisboa-Porto, París, Burgos, Alicante, Algeciras, Coruña and Vigo, Gijón.
Lines that stop in Vitoria:
Irún-Vigo
Irún-A Coruña
Irún-Bilbao-Salamanca-Fuentes de Oroño
Barcelona-Vigo
Barcelona-A Coruña
Irún-Bilbao-Alicante
Irún-Algeciras
Madrid-Bilbao/Irún-Hendaya

Taxis
RADIO TAXI 945273500
RADIO TAXI VIRGEN BLANCA 945253033