PLACE: Vitoria-Gasteiz

Vitoria-Gasteiz the capital of The Basque Country is and antique villa which nowadays has become in a modern, green and comfortable city. It is one of the cities with the best life quality in Europe. Green zones, parks, zones only for the pedestrians, a big part of the Basque heritage and the civic equipments are the elements that become Vitoria-Gasteiz in a city to discover and enjoy.

The Basque city is very nice to visit it walking. We could start through the old hill of Gasteiz, were it is set the old medieval town of the city. In the middle of it, it is set the Santa Maria Cathedral, which we will visit it later on. All the streets surrounding the Cathedral form a marvellous quarter with palaces, buildings and medieval monuments.

Continuing our walk it is time to visit the Cathedral. This Cathedral was built in the XIIII Century, and it was the fortress of the population. Now it is being repaired, but you can visit the building site and watch the evolution of the archaeology works.

Before going through the modern zone of the city, would not be bad to stop to have a “pintxo” (the typical tapa of the Basque Country) in the España square, this way you will discover the atmosphere of the Basque taverns. Also, you will be able to see the consistorial house. These are called the “Neoclassic Ensanche” of Vitoria-Gasteiz which was declared Historic-Artistic monuments in the 1984 year.

After our nice walk, we will visit the modern building of the Contemporary Art Museum, The Artium, inaugurated in 2002. From an architectonic point of view, the building is organized in different levels around and under a central square, with a total extension of 13,000 square meters. About 3,800 square meters are devoted to the Permanent Collection and temporary exhibitions; over 1000 are assigned to the museum and administrative areas, including the library; and the rest conforms the infrastructure and technical facilities linked to the exhibitions. There are important collections as pieces from Joan Miró, Picasso, Saura, Tapies...and also 79 artists from Alava from different generations.

After visiting the planed places it is not a bad idea to relax in one of the 40 parks of the city, a good recommendation is to enjoy of one of the most famous parks in Vitoria-Gasteiz, La Florida Park, situated in the centre of the city. It was put up in 1820 and it has not suffered a change since that year. Small lakes, green areas, tree from a 100 years ago and a music bandstand which reminds to the style of the French parks. Here starts a promenade which joints the centre with the Armentia fields.