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Spain Travel Information
Travel City Guides - Vitoria - Basque Country
VITORIA in the Basque Country, to discover a city untouched by mass-tourism
The Basque capital is situated on a vast plain surrounded by mountains; 60 Km from the coast, 30 Km from the vineyards and old wine cellars of the La Rioja region, and 50 Km from the monasteries where the first texts in Spanish language appeared.
The location and all the possibilities the city offers can be seen more clearly on the map.
About 230,000 inhabitants.
In the 1950´s, when the city had about 60,000 residents, Vitoria experienced a significant population boom. Its dynamic industry and services sectors attracted many people from other Spanish regions to settle in this ever-growing city.
Vitoria has both a train and a bus station, as well as an airport.
Vitoria is 351 Km from Madrid, 66 Km from Bilbao, 110 Km from San Sebastian, 112 Km from Burgos and 90 Km from Pamplona. All these cities, as well as others like Zaragoza and Barcelona, are interconnected by highways, bus and train lines.
There are regular flights available to and from Madrid and Barcelona.
Ryanair offers flights from/to London (Stanted).
More information on how to come to Vitoria.
The entire old town, with its narrow streets and unique architecture, has been declared a monumental group. The gothic churches of Santa Maria, San Vicente, San Pedro and San Miguel as well as the renaissance palaces of Montehermoso and Villa Suso, are worth seeing.Afterwards, you can stroll through the Arquillos, an arcaded walk that leads to the two main squares: the Plaza de España, and the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. This central area perfectly links the medieval quarter to the modern the town-centre.
This bustling area is filled with people strolling, shopping or sitting at the countless outdoor cafés, which line the streets. Time flies as you sit and watch people coming and going and children trading their card collections on Sunday mornings...
The parks, pedestrian-only streets and wide avenues are an open invitation to walk to the Museum of Fine Arts or the Romanesque church of San Prudencio. You can also go jogging around the Prado or San Juan de Arriaga parks.
A maritime climate prevails in the northern part of the country, from the Pyrenees to the northwest region, characterized by relatively mild winters, warm but not hot summers, and generally abundant rainfall spread out over the year.
Temperatures vary only slightly, both on a diurnal and a seasonal basis.
The moderating effects of the sea, however, abate in the inland areas, where temperatures are 9 to 18° C more extreme than temperatures on the coast. Distance from the Atlantic Ocean also affects precipitation, and there is less rainfall in the east than in the west. Autumn (October through December) is the wettest season, while July is the driest month.
The current Vitoria Weather as of today:
Álava is a land of contrasts: there are many Alavas in one. The Alava of the green valleys in the North and that of the vineyards in the South. The Alava of the calm lakes and that of the spectacular cascades. The Alava of the ideal city, Vitoria, and that of the tiny and remote villages.
Most of the province is dotted with small towns and villages of rural character with few inhabitants. Thanks to that, it has important and well conserved natural spaces: the Valderejo Natural Park to the west, the Izki Natural Park, with a golf course surrounded by mountains, the Gorbea Natural Park, the Urkiola, Aizkorri or Entzia mountain ranges or the three lakes located near the city.
Most of Alava’s inhabitants live in Vitoria, a city surrounded by hills and lakes. There are wonderful places for biking, horseback riding or practising all sorts of water sports. One may also play golf on one of the three courses.
The Rioja region is located about 30 Km from Vitoria. It is famous for its vineyards and fortified villages such as Laguardia, where one can visit wine cellars and taste excellent wines.
More information on Alava
If one had to define the Basque Country, one could say that the whole world is present in this small country. One can discover a surprising biodiversity within a 100-kilometre radius.
The North is dominated by the ocean and the mountains, covered in wonderful green, while the South has a more Mediterranean landscape, with its vineyards speckling the ever-ochre horizon with green.
Big cities, small villages and isolated farmhouses live in perfect harmony. The industrial centres with their intense activity, do not destroy the natural spaces, thereby preserving some of the most delicate ecosystems.
Beyond the dazzling natural environment, the romantic towns or the rich artistic heritage, the Basque country is defined by its people, above all.
We are a friendly people with a strong character, who proudly preserve our ancient culture and show the same enthusiasm for life and liberty.
The location of Vitoria and all the possibilities the city offers can be seen more clearly on the Just click on the link to see the map.
Map of the Basque Country
More information on the Basque Country
The biggest city is Bilbao, with a medieval origin but a strong and modern industrial and commercial tradition. Ever since the city embarked on its ambitious urban reform, it has become famous all over the world, with Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum, the most modern subway system in Europe designed by Norman Foster, the Euskalduna Congress Hall...
San Sebastian has its most extraordinary natural landscape, right in the middle of the city: the mountains meet the sea to form the beautiful bay of La Concha.
Beyond the sun and beach, the city offers various possibilities: museums, concerts, sports, popular festivities and cultural events of international renown –the Jazz Festival in July, “The Semana Grande” in August, the International Film Festival in September… The lively atmosphere on the streets of the Old Town should not be forgotten on this list. Here one can savour the wonderful Basque cuisine: from the exquisite “pintxos” (tapas) to the menus of the prestigious restaurants featuring the Basque “nouvelle cuisine”.
Just an hour or an hour and a half’s drive from Vitoria you can visit the world-famous festivities of San Fermin in Pamplona in July, the impressive cathedral in Burgos, the alternative festivals in Logroño and the wonderful Sardinero beach in Santander.
See you soon in Vitoria, Spain !
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