Guide to the Province of Avala

Álava
Spain
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTION
SIGHTSEEING IN VITORIA-GASTEIZ
The old city
2
The Romantic new town
5
The parks
7
PROVINCIAL EXCURSIONS
The Road to Santiago
La Rioja Alavesa
Gorbea: Foothills and reservoirs
Valderejo Nature Park
Western Valleys
9
12
14
16
17
LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
MAP
USEFUL INFORMATION
19
22
24
IRELAND
Dublin
UNITED KINGDOM
Londron
Paris
GA
L
RTU
ÁLAVA
Madrid
PO
Lisbon
FRANCE
➡
Atlantic Ocean
Cantabrian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
SPAIN
©
Ceuta
Rabat
MOROCCO
TURESPAÑA
Secretaría de Estado de Comercio y Turismo
Ministerio de Economía
Melilla
Written by: Luis Azpilicueta
Translated: Alistair L. Ross
Photographs: TURESPAÑA Archives
Layout: AZA, S.A.
Printed by: DITEGSA
D. L.: M. 29704-2001
NIPO: 380-01-038-3
Printed in Spain
Second Edition
Motorway
Dual Carriageway
National Trunk Road
1st class Regional Road
2nd class Regional Road
Local Road
Railway
Airport
Parador
Sanctuary/Monastery
Castle
Monument
Historic ruins
Megalithic monument
Prehistoric caves
Nature Park
Camping site
Golf course
T
he earliest
inhabitants of Alava
settled in the land
towards the end of the second
millennium BC.
Archaeological research has
shown that the territory was
solidly Romanised. Because
Alava (Araba) was not
isolated like other parts of the
Escutcheon. Salvatierra/Agurain
Basque country, it was here
that Christianisation and Latinisation began. For the same reason, in the
8th and 9th centuries the people of Alava had a dual relationship – on the
one hand with the Moslems and on the other with the Asturians – both of
which consisted of a constant succession of struggles and pacts to preserve
their independence.
Throughout most of the 11th century Alava, whose name first appears as
such in the Crónica Albeldense of 833, was under the influence of the
kingdom of Navarre; only after the death of king Sancho IV in 1076 did it
come within the political and military sphere of Castile. The 12th and 13th
centuries saw the first signs of urban development in Alava, with the creation
and growth of its principal towns. The 13th century also saw the first written
documents of the Cofradía de Arriaga, which was a basic institution of
government in that period. From then on, the traditional freedoms, or fueros,
of Alava survived various vicissitudes until 1876, when their abolition was
decreed following the end of the Second Carlist War.
With the restoration of freedoms at the end of the Franco dictatorship, Alava
recovered its General Assemblies and its Diputación Foral. With the
approval of the Statute of Autonomy of Gernika in 1979, Vitoria became the
political and administrative capital of the Autonomous Community of the
Basque Country.
Álava is the largest of the territories in the Basque Country, covering 3,037
square kilometres. It is also the least populous with 281,821 inhabitants,
214,234 of whom live in the capital Vitoria - Gasteiz. There are two official
languages – Spanish, which is spoken by the entire population, and Euskera,
which only a minority speak.
1
CLIMATE AND NATURE.
O
ne of the chief
characteristics of Alava is
the great variety of
landscapes and climates determined
by its peculiar relief. The province is
traversed by a succession of three
mountain chains which separate it
from Vizcaya (Bizkaia), Guipúzcoa
(Gipuzkoa) and La Rioja. As a
consequence the climate varies
widely, ranging from cool and wet
in the mountain areas to warm and
dry in the southern parts. Travellers
should be aware that winter
temperatures are generally low and
snow is not uncommon. The spring
is rainy and the summer and
autumn are mild. The mean
temperature is 20 º C in summer
and 8º C in winter.
2
T
he vegetation again varies
according to zones. The
north of the province is
green and woody, with large areas
of oak and beech (home to
abundant deer, boars, etc.), while
the south, especially near La Rioja,
is characterised by typically
Mediterranean stands of holm-oak
and boxwood, grain fields and
vineyards. About 35 per cent of the
province’s surface area is covered by
forest. Alava currently has four
“protected natural zones”: Valderejo,
Gorbea-Gorbeia, Urkiola and Izki.
Sightseeing in Vitoria-Gasteiz
THE OLD TOWN
The original town of Vitoria-Gasteiz,
founded on a small hillock, was
destroyed by fire in 1202. It was rebuilt
according to the dictates of mediaeval
burghs, and its streets still preserve the
names of the various guilds which
originally had their places there –
Harness-makers, Smiths, Shoemakers,
Cutlers, etc....
Los Arquillos
The visit to this part of the city
begins at Plaza de la Virgen
Blanca (1), the real centre of the
town, whose most striking feature
is the monument to the battle of
Vitoria, by Gabriel Borras. Slightly
overlooking the square one can
see the church of San Miguel with
a niche bearing the Virgen Blanca
or White Virgin, patroness of the
city. Adjacent to this square is
another, a classical four-square
porticoed place, site of the Town
EL
V
IÓN
NAC
ORO
P
Plaza Fuente
de los Patos
ev
C. Nu
ría
Pintore
illería
ús
Jes
Iglesia de
S. Vicente
3
Casa 2
Consistorial
Plaza
de España
4
S. Fran
c
Calle
P
l
al
C
Dato
de
Siervas
l
Pau
Museo Fournier
de Naipes
C uch
e
e
te d
ll
Ca
en
S. Vic
Calle
2
Prado
C. El
Plaza
Gral Loma
Calle
Iglesia de
S. Miguel
5
e
Palacio
Villa-Suso
1
es
a Mar ta
Calle Sant
as
Calle Las Escuel
7
Plaza de la
Provincia
8
Torre de
los Anda
Plaza
Sta. María
a
Correrí
ría
Zapate
de
ida
Pla
de B
CA
6
Calle
Calle
rraga
A
Museo
de Arqueología
Call
Plazuela
de Aldave
OY
OL
Hall. From there the itinerary
approaches the Old Town uphill
by way of the Cuesta de San
Francisco where Los Arquillos (2)
stands, a structure built by Justo
Antonio de Olagibel that connects
the mediaeval town with the 19thcentury new town through a line
of buildings in step formation.
Nearby is the church of San
Vicente and the little Plaza del
Machete (3), where the local
councillors once took the oath of
office. The outstanding feature
here is the 16th-century Palace of
Villa Suso, which is now used for
meetings and congresses.
Carrying on along Calle
Cuchillería is the fine Casa de
Cordón (4), built in the reign of
the Catholic Monarchs, and the
Palace of Bendaña. The next stop
is the Cathedral of Santa María (5)
or Old Catedral: this was
commenced in the 13th century
and has recently been restored.
In Calle Correría there are various
noble houses, like the mansions of
3
the Corcuera, the MaturanaVerástegui and the Torre de los
Anda families. At the end of this
street is El Portalón (6), a former
merchant house which now
contains a restaurant. Opposite is
the escutcheoned house of the
Gobeo-Landazuri family, a 16thcentury edifice which now
contains the Archaeological
Museum.
Plaza del Machete
Calle
de
Nearby in Calle Siervas de Jesús
rises the impressive Torre de Doña
Otxanda (7), a 15th-century tower
which now houses the Natural
Science Museum. Along the same
street is Plaza de la Provincia,
where one can view the 19thcentury palace of the Diputación
Foral de Álava (8), and further on
one comes once again to Plaza de
la Virgen Blanca where the
itinerary started.
Ca
lle
de
Ca
lle
de
Ariz
a
arr
nav
4
Again, the starting-point is Plaza de
la Virgen Blanca, which gives on to
some old-town streets and other
main streets of the new town. One
of these is the Calle Dato, a busy
pedestrian shopping street which
today is still frequented by the
citizens of Vitoria as a place to meet
and have a stroll.
New Cathedral
finally consecrated until 1969.
Nearby, at the entrance to La Florida
park, is the seat of the Basque
Parliament (11), an edifice built in
the mid-19th century. Presiding over
the session hall is a sculpture by
Nestor Basterretxea.
Walking eastwards from Virgen
Blanca, one comes to Plaza de Los
Fueros (9). Designed in the early
1980s by sculptor Eduardo Chillida
and architect Peña Ganchegui, it
blends modern originality of design
with traditional uses such as the
practice of rural sports.
Crossing through La Florida park are
the attractive Paseo de La Senda and
Paseo de Fray Francisco de Vitoria,
two walks lined by elegant houses,
which lead to the Museum of Fine
Art (12) and the Museum of
Heraldry (13). The former is housed
in a small Neo-renaissance palace
14
Dato
los
Calle
Calle M
anuel de
Iradier
Plaza de
la Estación
encio
de
Eduardo
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Alava
San Prud
de
Antonio
San
General
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9
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Plaza
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S. Fran
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Casa
Consistorial
Plaza
de España
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Iglesia de
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Pl. Francisco
J. de Ayala
IS
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Westwards from Virgen Blanca is
the New Cathedral (10) or
Cathedral of María Inmaculada, a
Neo-Gothic building with a fine
crypt and sacristy. The first stone
was laid in 1907, but it was not
HO
de
THE ROMANTIC NEW TOWN
P
13
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Geografía e Historia
set in beautiful gardens. Opposite
stands the Palace of Ajuria Enea
(14), which has been the seat of the
presidency of the Basque
Government and the official
residence of the Lehendakari or
Basque President since 1980. It was
built in 1918.
Carrying on along Paseo de Fray
Francisco de Vitoria, one comes to
Parque del Prado and the
Mendizorroza sports facilities.
Continuing along Paseo Cervantes
and Avenida de San Prudencio, less
than two kilometres away is the
country house of Armentia, with the
Romanesque church of San
Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
6
Prudencio (15). Built in the 12th13th centuries, this is where the
people of Vitoria hold a romería or
festive religious outing every 28
April, where traditional tidbits like
perrechicos (spring mushrooms) and
snails are handed round.
CAL
LE
19
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de
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bis
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CALLE
bia
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Calle
Méjico
Calle
ra
na
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r
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de
Calle
Calle
Plaza
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One of the best known and most
emblematic is La Florida Park (16),
located in the heart of the city. Work
on it began in 1820, with the New
Cathedral or Cathedral of Maria
Inmaculada at one end and the seat
of the Basque Parliament at the
other. In no more than 35,000
square metres there are 95 species
of tree and 79 species of bush,
ov
id
O
Hospital
de Santiago
H
rrán
los He
Vitoria- Gasteiz boasts the highest ratio
of green areas per inhabitant in Spain
and one of the highest in Europe. In
aggregate the parks of Vitoria contain
nearly 127,000 trees belonging to 150
different species.
Pr
Alava
San Pruden
cio
Calle Ma
nuel de
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Plaza de
la Estación
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Señora de
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Villa-Suso
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24
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CARTOGRAFÍA: GCAR, S.L. Cardenal Silíceo, 35
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which lends it the appearance of a
botanical garden.
Continuing along Paseo de la Senda
and Paseo de Fray Francisco de
Vitoria is another of the central green
areas, the Parque del Prado (17).
Here there are 21 species of
deciduous tree, the most
outstanding being Indian chestnut,
ash, linden, maple and some
examples of red oak.
One of the oldest parks is
Judizmendi (18). Originally a Jewish
cemetery, when the Catholic
Monarchs expelled the Jews from
Spain, they granted the land to the
7
city on condition that nothing was
built there. The park contains a
monolith commemorating this fact.
There are several deciduous species,
most notably a number of white
poplars.
The largest park in Vitoria-Gasteiz is
San Juan de Arriaga (19), an area of
19 ha in the north of the city. In the
park is the Ermita Juradera or Bailey
Hermitage, built on the site formerly
reserved for meetings of the Arriaga
Brotherhood, the body that once
governed and administered Alava,
and witness to many historic events.
Here there are more than 100
different species of tree.
In Vitoria there are many other
places which although not strictly
speaking parks, offer considerable
botanical interest. These include:
Gardens of Calle Magdalena (22),
which preserves an impressive giant
sequoia over 40 metres high.
Paseo de la Senda (23), with 65
plane trees rising to more than 40
metres.
Paseo de Fray Francisco (24) and
Paseo de Cervantes (25): lined by
Indian chestnuts (436 in all) of both
the white and pink blossomed
varieties.
Other important parks are
Molinuevo (20) and San Martín (21).
The latter is one of the most modern
and the second largest after Arriaga,
covering 85,000 square metres. It
contains 11 species of conifer, 66
leafy species and over 10,000 rose
bushes.
La Florida Park
8
7
Provincial
excursions
THE ROAD TO SANTIAGO
The Road to Santiago enters Alava
from Guipuzcoa by way of the San
Adrian tunnel, where the road runs
through a naturally-bored crag
between the massifs of Aitzgorri and
Aratz populated by lush beech
woods.
The road down from the San Adrian
Tunnel to the town of Zalduondo
passes by one of the oldest edifices
in Alava – the hermitage of San
Julian y Santa Basilia de Alistra,
which boasts an interesting preRomanesque window.
In Zalduondo it is worth visiting the
Renaissance palace of Lazarraga or
“Casa de los Gizones”, which has a
monumental escutcheon over the
gateway and restored mural
paintings. This is now the home of
Sculpture in the Ethnographic Museum,
Lazarraga Palace. Zalduondo
the local ethnographic museum
(( 945 30 43 74). The parish
church has an interesting choir-stall,
a tower and a main altarpiece by
Pedro de Ayala. The connection
with Santiago can be found on the
bench, which bears a relief carving
of St. James the Pilgrim.
9
Church of San Martin.
Gaceo-Gazeo
The next stop
is Ordoñana, near which
stands the Hermitage of San Millan.
Considerably restored, the
hermitage is of mediaeval origin, its
facade dominated by a Baroque
escutcheon. Nearby in Eguilaz, just
off the N-I highway, is the
magnificent dolmen of Aizkomendi,
one of the finest megalithic
monuments in the Basque Country.
Dolmen of Aizkomendi. Eguilaz
10
The next
stop, and one of the
most important, is the mediaeval
town of Salvatierra-Agurain, the hub
of the Plain of Alava. Here are
preserved remains of old town walls
and palaces and lordly mansions
built in the 16th century. It is worth
visiting the churches of San Juan and
Santa Maria, and the Renaissance
palace known as “Casa de Begoña”.
After Salvatierra we come to GaceoGazeo, whose church preserves
some fine paintings in the linear
Franco-Gothic style, representing a
varied religious iconography.
Nearby is Alaiza, in whose church
of La Asuncion 15th-century
monochrome paintings were
discovered in 1982.
Another outstanding place on this
route is Alegria-Dulantzi, where
visitors are recommended to see the
church of San Juan, the town hall
and the Casa de los Gaona.
Carrying on by way of villages
like Añua, Matauco and
Argandoña, the next place to
stop is at the Sanctuary of
Estibaliz. This is an impressive
example of the finest Alavese
Romanesque, with an
outstanding baptismal font,
capitals and doorway.
Once through Vitoria, this
Jacobean route runs parallel to
the Montes de Vitoria, passing
through the Conchas de Arganzón
on the river Zadorra, by way of
Puebla de Arganzón to Armiñón.
Here the road forks: to Burgos or to
Santo Domingo de la Calzada (La
Rioja).
Zadorra. It is worth visiting the
church of Nuestra Señora de la
Asuncion, whose main altarpiece is
one of the finest examples of
Hispanic Plateresque..
The best feature of Armiñón is its
bridge. There is a road from
Armiñón to Salinillas de Burandón,
a walled town boasting a
magnificent rectangular tower with
a semicircular arch.
Sanctuary of Estibaliz
From here the route leaves Alava
and enters the Region of La Rioja on
the way to Santo Domingo de la
Calzada.
La Puebla de Arganzón is one of the
municipalities of the County of
Treviño, an enclave of Burgos in the
province of Alava. Founded in
1191, this walled town was a
stopping-place on the mediaeval
route along the left bank of the
10
11
LA RIOJA ALAVESA
Bounded on the north by the
Cantabria and Toloño ranges
and on the south by the river
Ebro, the Rioja Alavesa
district enjoys a climate well
suited to the winemaking for
which it is famous. This is
also an area with a wealth of
archaeological remains from
Palaeolithic, Roman and
Mediaeval times.
The route begins leaving
Vitoria by the A-2124
heading for Puerto de La
Herrera, a road that winds
through surroundings of great
natural beauty. On the way
down is a vantage point
called Balcón de La Rioja,
which gives a fine view over
a splendid landscape. The first town
coming down from La Herrera pass
is Leza. In the centre of the town is
the Renaissance church of San
Martin, which has a lovely doorway
in Isabelline style. On the outskirts is
the dolmen known as “El Sotillo”.
Church of San Martin. Leza
The road then carries on to
Laguardia, the most important town
in the district and one of the most
beautiful. The entire old town is
encircled by walls built in the early
13th century. At either end of the
main street are the churches of San
Juan, originally a Romanesque
construction although now a
mixture of several styles, and Santa
Maria de los Reyes. The latter is
notable for its impressive Gothic
doorway, one of the few from the
period that retain the original
polychrome. At one end of the
walled precinct – in the avenue “El
Collado” – stands a monument to
the fabulist Samaniego.
It is also recommended to take a
walk about Laguardia, as the whole
town centre is full of artistic and
historic interest. Visitors should also
look in at some of the many
wineries, where they can taste and
purchase examples of the
magnificent local products.
Very near Laguardia proper are the
Dolmen of San Martin and Poblado
de la Hoya, a settlement whose
remains appear to date back to the
first millennium BC. Also worth a
visit is the “Las Lagunas” nature
zone, which is classified as a
protected biotype.
Leaving Laguardia there are other
small villages of interest like
Laserna, Páganos, Elvillar/Bilar
(within whose limits stands the
Dolmen de la Chabola de La
Hechicera, one of the most
important dolmens in the Basque
Country), or Navaridas.
Also of interest is the nearby town of
Elciego. Visitors are recommended
to take a walk about the streets, full
of noble esutcheoned houses, to the
main square, site of the Town Hall
and the hermitage of the Virgen de
la Plaza. The parish church, in the
lower part of the town, is dedicated
to San Andres. Its most striking
features are an enormous
semicircular arch around the
doorway and oddly unmatched
towers. Elciego has many wineries,
some family-owned and others
internationally famous.
Church of Santa Maria de los Reyes. Laguardia
GORBEA: FOOTHILLS AND
RESERVOIRS
At 1,482 metres, Mount Gorbea is
the highest peak in the Basque
Country and has given its name to
an entire massif which has been
classified as a “protected nature
zone”. Covering 250 square
kilometres, this park is of great
scenic and ecological interest, with
one of the largest forested areas in
the Basque Country. ( Park
information centre ( 945 43 00 06).
This excursion begins in Murgia,
which is reached from Vitoria by the
N-622 dual carriageway bound for
Altube. Murgia is the capital of the
Zuya Valley, an area of small
villages in traditional local style. The
14
town centre, dominated by the
church of San Miguel and the Town
Hall, is well preserved. There are a
number of places worth visiting in
the surrounding area:
-Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Oro.
Built on top of a former
Romanesque church, the Sanctuary
can be reached by turning off just
after the town of Bitoriano.
-Hermitage of Jugatxi. Again starting
from Murgia, one travels first to the
neighbouring village of Jugo and
from there to the hermitage of
Jugatxi, which stands amidst a fine
beech wood.
-Paseo del Río Bayas. From Sarria
(one kilometre away from Murgia)
there is a pretty path along the
banks of the river Bayas. This is the
start of one of the routes up to
Gorbea
14
Tomb of Chancellor Ayala. Quejana
From Murgia, the route goes
through Zarate and Manurga to
Gopegi, capital of the Zigoitia
Valley. The church here preserves
some Romanesque elements and a
tower known as Torre Goikoetxea.
Nearby are the reservoirs of Gorbea,
which can be reached from Murua
by way of forest tracks. Highway
N-240 leads on to Elosu, a pretty
village standing on a peninsula in
the Urunaga reservoir, where an old
ceramic kiln is still preserved and
there is a museum of traditional
Basque pottery.
Quejana is of particular historic and
artistic interest, with an architectural
ensemble in whose chapel there is a
really spectacular altarpiece.
From Murgia one can also head in
the direction of Bilbao to the Ayala
Valley, where there are a number of
important towns like Quejana,
Artziniega, Amurrio and Llodio,
and also Orduña, an enclave of
Vizcaya in the province of Alava.
Torre Goikoetxea. Gopegi
15
VALDEREJO NATURE PARK
Valderejo Nature Park belongs to
the municipality of Valdegovia, at
the western edge of Alava near the
boundary with Burgos. In January
1992 it was declared a “protected
nature zone”; this together with a
Plan for the Regulation of Natural
Resources meant that 35 kilometres
of territory came under official
protection. The Valderejo nature
zone is particularly attractive for the
diversity of the flora and fauna.
The park is situated 50 kilometres
from Vitoria and is reached by way
of Nanclares de la Oca, Salinas de
Añana and Villanueva de
Valdegovia. Access to the nature
park from Alava is by way of a local
road from Arroyo de San Zadornil to
Lalastra where there is a car park,
an interpretive and reception centre
(( 947 56 60 91) and a recreation
area. Lalastra is the starting-point for
signposted itineraries through the
park.
16
One recommended excursion is the
River Purón defile, which can be
reached by way either of the
Tobalina Valley in Burgos or the
town of Ribera in Alava, whose
church contains some interesting
Gothic paintings.
The town of Valdegovia is
practically an enclave in the
province of Burgos. Villanueva de
Valdegovia is the chief town in the
valley and the municipal district,
which includes 29 urban units.
Many of them preserve remains of
past importance, the first of which is
the Torre de los Varona in Villanañe,
near Villanueva on the way to the
N-625. Built in the late 16th
century, the tower still retains its
original appearance. Not far from
Villanueva are the cave hermitages
of San Martin de Valparaiso.
On the way from From Villanañe to
Caranca, the Sanctuary of Nuestra
Señora de Angosto stands on a
lovely site beside the River
Humecillo. Inside is a 16th-century
altarpiece and a mediaeval image of
the Virgin. Those interested can also
visit the place where tradition has it
that the virgin appeared to a
shepherd.
Valderejo Nature Park
16
WESTERN VALLEYS: SALINAS DE
AÑANA, ESPEJO
This route commences in
Nanclares de la Oca-Langraitz
Oka, travelling from VitoriaGasteiz via the N-102 and turning
off on to the A-2622. Nanclares
has a fine parish church and a
square with a curious fountain.
The Subijana pass between the
Badaia and Arkamo ranges leads
into the Cuartango Valley. Here
there are fourteen townships in
addition to the chief town of
Zuazo, whose church preserves
some Romanesque remains.
Particularly interesting is
Katadiano, site of a group of four
dolmens. From there one can visit
the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora
de Eskolumbe, located in
delightful natural surroundings.
The route carries on from Subijana
by way of Valdegovia. The
A-2622 leads through Pobes to
Salinas de Añana-Añana Gesaltza,
a township classified as part of the
cultural heritage, which boasts
some impressive salt-pans from
Roman times. In the lower part of
the town is the parish church of
Santa María de Villacones,
mediaeval in origin but later
reformed. Other interesting
buildings in the town centre are
the Town Hall, the palace of Los
Herrán and the Baroque
clocktower. However, the most
impressive sight here are the salt
pans, some of which are still
operational.
17
On the road from Salinas de
Añana to Espejo where it passes
through the Valdegovia valley is
one of the most important
monuments in the area, the
Romanesque church of La
Asunción de Tuesta, built in the
12th century. Especially striking is
the splendid decoration of the
doorway, while in the interior
there is a lovely carving of the
virgin dated 1300 and a
Plateresque altarpiece.
Espejo is an important township
and summer resort, whose
Salines of Añana-Añana. Gesaltza
outstanding monument is the
Torre de Luyandos y Hurtado de
Mendoza, a tower built in the
16th century. Also near Espejo are
Nograro, and Carcamo where
there is a small church in the pure
Romanesque style.
LEISURE AND
ENTERTAINMENT
which encompass almost every
branch of human knowledge, from
biology to history and art.
Alava in general and Vitoria-Gasteiz
in particular offer visitors a virtually
continuous programme of cultural
and recreational
spectacles.
The best-known festivals nationally
and internationally are:
In Vitoria-Gasteiz:
• Archaeological Museum,
C/ Correría, 116
• Museum of Heraldry
C/ Paseo de Fray Francisco, 3.
• Fine Art Museum.
C/ Paseo de Fray Francisco, 8.
• Natural Science Museum
C/ Siervas de Jesús, 24
• Fournier Musem of Cards.
C/ Cuchilerría 54
• National Non-professional Film
Festival (April)
• The Month of Dance (May)
• Artists street festival (June)
• International Festival of Folklore
(July)
• International Choral Week
(September)
• Old-time Music Week
(September)
• Video Festival (June or July)
• Games Festival (July)
• International Magic Conference
(September)
• International Theatre Festival
(Autumn)
• Vitoria-Gasteiz Art Festival
(November-December)
• One particularly special event is
the Jazz Festival (July), which has
become a must for jazz lovers and
attracts the cream of the
international jazz scene. For more
information about the festival:
Asociación Festival de Jazz de
Vitoria-Gasteiz. ( 945 14 19 19,
fax 945 13 02 87
Both the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz and
the rest of the province offer a
magnificent range of museums
In the province:
• Oppidum Museum of Iruña
(Villodas-Trespuentes)
• Heraldic Museum (Mendoza)
• Archaeological Museum of La
Hoya ( Laguardia)
• Basque Museum of Gastronomy
(Llodio)
• Museum of Basque Pottery (Elosu)
• Also: Ethnographic museums in
Oyón, Amurrio, Atziniega, Pipaón,
Zalduendo and elsewhere.
For information on visiting hours,
entrance charges, arranged visits,
etc.:
Alava Museum Service
( 945 18 19 18
FOOD AND DRINK
Products of its climate and culture,
the gastronomy of Alava boasts a
tremendous variety. The betterknown dishes include broad beans
with ham, butter-beans with quail,
19
fresh-water crab, scrambled eggs
with perrechicos (spring
mushrooms), macedoine of
vegetables, potatoes Rioja-style,
lamb chops grilled on vine-wood,
and lamb cooked a la panadera
with potatoes, onions and wine. The
confectionery is also justly famous,
especially in Vitoria, with homemade nougats, chocolate truffles
and pine-kernel and walnut cakes.
One of the most firmly-rooted
customs in Alava – and in the
Basque Country in general – is to do
the rounds of the bars sampling the
wines, the beers and the famous
pinchos or tapas. The regular areas
of Vitoria for this are the Old Town,
the New Town and the adjoining
streets.
Wine – undoubtedly one of the
most internationally famous
products of Alava – requires
separate mention. The Rioja Alavesa
produces potent wines, the reds
chiefly from tempranillo varieties,
and the whites from viura. The best
way is to try them at the local
wineries which abound in towns of
the Rioja Alaves like Elciego,
Laguardia, Baños de Ebro, etc.
FESTIVALS
In Vitoria the best known and most
popular festival is that of the Virgen
Blanca (5 August), enlivened by the
“blusas”, the name given to the
troupes of young men because of
20
the blouses that they wear. The
festivities commence with the
descent of Celedon, a dummy
dressed with blouse and umbrella
which is passed over the heads of
the crowd from the church of San
Miguel to the Plaza de la Virgen
Blanca. The celebrations last a week.
The day of the patron of the
province, San Prudencio, falls on 28
April, with romerías in almost every
town, where typically snails and
perrechicos (spring mushrooms) are
served out. One particularly popular
example is in the fields of Armentia
in Vitoria, by the hermitage erected
there in honour of the saint.
Another festival of interest is the
carnival in both town and country,
which usually closes with the
“burning of Judas”. The town of
Zalduendo has some reputation in
this respect. Also worth seeing are
the alms festivals like that of Santa
Agueda (4 February) or Jueves de
Lardero (the Thursday before Lent).
Festivals of patron saints: Laguardia
(last week in June), with popular
bull-runs; San Pedro de Llodio,
recently reinstated (29 June);
Artziniega (8 September), with a
popular romería to the Sanctuary of
Nuestra Señora de la Encina, and
Santa Cruz de Campezo (first
Sunday in September).
SPORTS
For sports enthusiasts Alava has four
golf clubs (in Urturi, Lagran, Altube
and Legutiano), nine riding schools
and two sailings clubs plus a variety
of schools for paragliding, hanggliding, canoeing and adventure
sports.
San Sebastián and France by the
N-I, with Bilbao by the A-68 and
with Pamplona by the 240-A and
the N-I.
The city also has good rail links and
regular bus services.
ACCESS AND
COMMUNICATIONS
Vitoria has an airport in the
neighbouring town of Foronda, with
connections to major cities of Spain
and Europe. Also, Bilbao Airport
(Sondika) is less than an hour’s drive
away on the A-68 motorway.
Visitors can reach Vitoria by road
from Madrid via Burgos on the N-1
and A-1, and from Barcelona,
Zaragoza and Logroño on the A-68
and the N-232. It is connected with
Parador of Argomaniz
21
USEFUL INFORMATION
International dialling code: 34
TRANSPORT
TOURIST INFORMATION
TURESPAÑA ( 901 300 600
www.tourspain.es
Vitoria-Gasteiz Airport: nine kilometres
from Vitoria, on the N-624 highway,
Km. 3 direction Bilbao (Foronda)
Information: ( 945 16 35 91
TOURIST OFFICE OF THE BASQUE
GOVERNMENT
Parque de la Florida. Vitoria-Gasteiz
( 945 13 13 21, fax 945 13 02 93
www.euskadi.net/turismo
e-mail: [email protected]
PARADORS
Central booking office for Paradors:
Calle Requena, 3. 28013 Madrid
( 91 516 66 66, fax 91 516 66 57
www.parador.es
e-mail: [email protected]
PARADOR DE ARGÓMANIZ
Carretera N-I, Km. 363
Argómaniz (Álava)
( 945 29 32 00, fax 945 29 32 87
TOURIST INFORMATION
OFFICES
MUNICIPAL TOURIST OFFICE OF
VITORIA-GASTEIZ. Calle Dato 11
( 945 16 15 98, fax 945 16 11 05
www.vitoria-gasteiz.org
e-mail: [email protected]
MUNICIPAL CONGRESS AND TOURIST
SERVICE OF VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Palacio de Congresos Europa
Avenida de Gasteiz
( 945 16 12 79 / 61
AGRO-TOURISM OFFICE
( 902 13 00 31
GENERAL INFORMATION
Emergencies (112
Cruz Roja. Vitoria-Gasteiz
( 945 22 22 22
Traffic & Highways ( 900 12 35 05
www.dgt.es
24
RENFE railway station:
( 945 23 02 02
Bus station: ( 945 25 84 00
Radio-Taxis: ( 945 27 35 00,
945 25 30 33, 908 87 01 44 44
(the last has a service for physically
disabled persons)
SPANISH TOURIST INFORMATION
OFFICES ABROAD
CANADA. Toronto
Tourist Office of Spain
2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402
TORONTO, Ontario M4W 3E2
( 1416/ 961 31 31,
fax 1416/ 961 19 92
e-mail: [email protected]
www.tourspain.toronto.on.ca
GREAT BRITAIN. London
Spanish Tourist Office
Manchester Square, 22-23
LONDON W1M 5AP
( 44207/ 486 80 77,
fax 44207/ 486 80 34
e-mail: [email protected]
www.uk.tourspain.es
www.tourspain.co.uk
JAPAN. Tokyo
Tourist Office of Spain
Daini Toranomon Denki Bldg.4F
3-1-10 Toranomon. Minato-Ku
TOKIO-105
( 813/ 34 32 61 41,
fax 813/ 34 32 61 44
e-mail: [email protected]
www.spaintour.com
CITY DTREET GUIDE
CAL
19
PARAG
UAY
LE
Jes
ús
CAL
lle
Dato
los
de
Eduardo
de
Calle
Calle
MIRO
C. R
A
ño
Siervas
DE M
A EZ
de
TU
DE
zuri
Bustin
Avend
a
Ca
A RR
A
IDA
Plaza de
la Estación
13
O
bi
sp
o
lle
Ca
CALL
E FLO
RIDA
Olaguíb
el
Lejarreta
Calle José
Antonio
P
án
Pº
de
la
Plaza de
Sta. Bárbara
Escuela Universitaria
Prof. de EGB
Archivo
Facultad de Filología Municipal
Geografía e Historia
EMBASSIES IN MADRID
16. La Florida Park
17. El Prado Park
18. Judizmendi Parki
19. San Juan de Arriaga Park
20. Molinuevo Park
21. San Martín Park
22. Calle Magdalena Gardens
23. Paseo de la Senda
24. Paseo de Fray Francisco
25. Paseo de Cervantes
CANADA: Nuñez de Balboa, 35
w 91 431 43 00, fax 91 431 23 67
Conventional signs
New York. Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue 35 th floor
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10103
w 1212/ 265 88 22, fax 1212/ 265 88 64
www.okspain.org
e-mail:[email protected]
RUSSIA: Velazquez, 155
w 91 562 22 64, fax 91 562 97 12
0
100
200
300
400 m
CARTOGRAFÍA: GCAR, S.L. Cardenal Silíceo, 35
Tel. 91 416 73 41 - 28002 MADRID - AÑO 1999
The Romantic new town
The Parks
JAPAN: Serrano, 109
w 91 590 76 00, fax 91 590 13 21
Plaza
de Toros
1. Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
2. Los Arquillos
3. Plaza del Machete
4. Casa del Cordón
5. Cathedral of Santa María
6. El Portalón
7. Torre de Otxanda. Natural Science
Museum
8. Diputación Foral de Álava
Miami. Tourist Office of Spain
1221 Brickell Avenue. MIAMI, Florida 33131
w 1305/ 358 19 92, fax 1305/ 358 82 23
e-mail: [email protected]
GREAT BRITAIN: Fernando El Santo, 16
w 91 319 02 00, fax 91 308 10 33
N
The old town
9. Plaza de los Fueros
10. New Catedral
11. Basque Parliament
12. Museum of Fine Art
13. Museum of Heraldry
14. Ajuria Enea Palace
15. Church of San Prudencio
18
Judizmendi
AVENID
A
Plaza
J. Mª Leizaola
z
de Estíbali
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Avenida Nt
Calle
PAZ
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CALLE
de
Serafí
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Calle
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Calle
Calle
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Plaza de
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Plaza. Ntra. Sra.
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C. O
FLO R
á
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Plaza
Simón Bolívar
Calle
de
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SIGHTSEEING IN
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Chicago. Tourist Office of Spain
Water Tower Place, suite 915 East. 845, North
Michigan Avenue. CHICAGO, ILL 60-611
w 1312/ 642 19 92, fax 1312/ 642 98 17
e-mail: [email protected]
N
ov
i
Logroñ
de
HERRÁ
14
Alava
LOS
24
DE
P
Pr
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de
dier
DOLID
Hospital
de Santiago
H
Calle
9
San Prud
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DE
FRAY
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15
12
17
PASEO
25
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Calle M
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var
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DE
A
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CALL
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Los Angeles. Tourist Office of Spain
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960
BEVERLY HILLS, CAL 90211
w 1323/ 658 71 95, fax 1323/ 658 10 61
e-mail: [email protected]
Arana
Calle
FRA
de
AL
RT
JA
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DE
i
CA
General
CA
de
Calle
sco P.
del Rey
le
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Calle
Calle
P
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Calle va Dentro
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C. Nu
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Iglesia de
S. Vicente
C
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10
Prado
C. El
Plaza
Gral. Loma
Calle
EA
VALL
A
Plaza
San Antón
ría
Pintore
a
illerí
Cuch
PO
L
RTA
AS
de
ente
S. Vic
Calle
Calle
Juntas
len Generales
a
AL
RT
Plaza
de Bilbao
Museo Fournier
de Naipes
Palacio
Plaza de la
Villa-Suso
Provincia
Iglesia de
3
S. Miguel
8
Casa 2
Consistorial
1 dePlaza
España
16
C
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5
a Mar ta
Calle Sant
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Calle Las Escuela
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22
Z
Ignac
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Olano
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Torre de
los Anda
Plaza
Sta. María
7
a
Correrí
ía
Zapater
Plaza
Gerardo Armesto
6
PO
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Calle
Calle
ga
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Plaza Conde
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Pintor
Plazuela
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Pl. Francisco
J. de Ayala
Plaza
de Lovaina
C. M
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Calle
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20
S. I
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Plaza Fuente
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Museo
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Tomá
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de Salinas
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Calle
Beato
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Plaza
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21
IÓN
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Plaza deC
la Ciudadela
L
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Plaza
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N
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Plaza
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Plaza del DE
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Emperador
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Plaza
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iz
VI
Centro Sociocultural
Deportivo Iparralde
E
CA
Calle
i
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Call
Ajuria
Chile
Plaza Tres
de Marzo
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Plaza de
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Ca
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INGO
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Calle
Calle
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CALLE
GORB
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Calle
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SINGAPORE. Singapore
Spanish Tourist Office
541Orchard Road. Liat Tower # 09-04
238881 SINGAPORE
w 657/ 37 30 08, fax 657/ 37 31 73
e-mail: [email protected]
er
de
CAL
C AL
ND
Plaza
de Llodio
uela
DE
DO
CO
AMA
GA
GAM
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Vene
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CALLE
LE
ZA R
Ballest
N
JUA
Calle
CAL
DE
LE
DE
AY
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TAL
POR
VITORIA-GASTEIZ
RUSSIA. Moscow. Spanish Tourist Office
Tverskaya – 16/2 Business Center
“Galeria Aktor” 6º floor. MOSCÚ 103009
w 7095/ 935 83 99, fax 7095/ 935 83 96
e-mail: [email protected]
www.tourspain.ru
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Serrano, 75
w 91 587 22 00, fax 91 587 23 03
Tourist information office
Hospital
Car Park
Railway station
Bus station
Álava
Spain
SECRETARÍA DE
ESTADO DE COMERCIO
Y TURISMO
MINISTERIO
DE ECONOMÍA
SECRETARÍA
GENERAL DE
TURISMO
TURESPAÑA
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