Vitoria-Gasteiz

Capital of Araba and the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz is located in the Llanada Alavesa (plains), in the middle of the historical territory.

The city houses the main Basque institutions: the presidency in Ajuria-Enea palace; the Basque Government in Lakua and, also, the Basque Parliament. That?s the reason why Vitoria-Gasteiz is, eminently, an administrative and services city.

However, the city presents many locations worth visiting. We can begin our itinerary by the cathedral of Santa María, placed on the upper part of the medieval city. We continue with the Museo del Naipe (Museum of Playing Cards), in the middle of the historical part. The museum contains a collection of 15,000 playing cards, the biggest in the world. Finally, our artistic and historical tour will finish in the plaza de España square and the City Hall. The plaza de España was nominated Artistic-Historic Monument in 1984.

Likewise, we?d like to mention the square of the Virgen Blanca, the core of daily life for the city?s inhabitants. Moreover, the square is very well known because it hosts the festival of the Virgen Blanca beginning in august with the descent of Celedón, popular celebrity in Araba.

On the other hand, the capital of Araba offers a wide variety of activities all through the year. In February, for instance, takes place the Basque Cinema Week; in May the Spring Craftwork Fair and, above all, we?d like to mention the Jazz Festival that takes place at the end of July.