The Other Spot

Situated only 65 km from Bilbao and 111, San Sebastian, Vitoria, capital of Alava, is a quiet, cozy and elegant. A place of those of the salts that when you tell yourself that you do not mind living there. And is that the city hosts more from medieval to modern classicism given mainly by the new Artium Museum of Contemporary Art, opened in 2002.

The historic city center is open to the modern city with the Cathedral of Santa Maria, located in the highest part of the whole medieval area of Vitoria. Gothic style, this church was built in the thirteenth century, but underwent several expansions and reconstructions in the following centuries, until the last, which was conducted in 2000, because its exterior walls were dangerous curves.

Around the cathedral retains the typical flavor in all its medieval streets, beginning with the very names that remind us of ancient professions: Blacksmithing, Shoe … Curiously, even today, continues to hold a flea market is typical in many of these streets every first Sunday every month, with tastings included.

Street area is one of the most cutlery set in terms of restoration areas, and that the area is given the right environment for such establishments cozy inns and taverns, many of which also rise above ancient palaces and historic houses, and where from Culinary poteo can enjoy the typical Vitoria, where we can go from bar to bar taking, pots, small glasses of wine well known in Vitoria.

There will also find the area of Museums such as the Archaeological and Natural Sciences.

And, at the edge of the new city, wherever the Promenade starts Arquillos, we found a monumental palace worth visiting: the Palace of Villa Suso, a beautiful sixteenth-century mansion that stands next to the church of San Miguel.

But it’s time to get into the most modern, down the steep slope Arquillos Promenade, where it spread to the Old City when it could no longer accommodate more people. The change that occurs is important, as walking through narrow medieval streets and Renaissance classical houses where everything smells of history, we come to meet with wide avenues and, above all, a very cool parks and squares.

Much can also walk in this part of town, but would emphasize above all, not only Arquillos Promenade, but also the Plaza of Spain, a large arcaded square where the Town Hall of Vitoria. A dye neoclassical square, open and very charming with its arcades. All this part of town is a succession of places, because if we find the beginning of the Machete, and then to Spain, at last came to the most popular of all: that of the Virgen Blanca.

To describe it would have to stick to their buildings, everything. Because the first thing is obvious woody their windows, huge white wooden locks and glass that give the place a uniform appearance between classic and elegant. In the center well-kept gardens and in them the monument commemorating the victory of the Basques on the troops of Napoleon.

And finally, the Contempraneo Artium Museum of Art, designed by Jose Luis Cato. A museum houses over two thousand works of the twentieth century and whose samples are works by Miró, Chillida and Picasso.