Coordinates: 42°51′N 2°41′W

Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz (/vɪˌtɔːriə ɡɑːˈsteɪs/; Spanish: [βiˈtoɾja]; Basque: [ɡas̺teis̻])
is the seat of government and the capital city of the Basque Country and of Vitoria-Gasteiz
the province of Araba/Álava in northern Spain. It holds the autonomous Gasteiz (Basque)
community's House of Parliament, the headquarters of the Government, Vitoria (Spanish)
and the Lehendakari's (Prime Minister's) official residency. The
municipality—which comprises not only the city but also the mainly Municipality
agricultural lands of 63 villages around—is the largest in the Basque
Country, with a total area of 276.81 square kilometres (106.88 sq mi), and
it has a population of 252,571 (May 2019). The dwellers of Vitoria-Gasteiz
are called vitorianos or gasteiztarrak, while traditionally they are dubbed
babazorros (Basque for 'bean sacks').

Vitoria-Gasteiz is a multicultural city with strengths in healthcare,

aeronautics, vehicle industry, and gastronomy. It is consistently ranked as
one of the 5 best places to live in Spain, it is the first Spanish municipality
to be awarded the title of European Green Capital (in 2012) and it has been
also recognized by the UN with the Global Green City Award (in 2019).
The old town has some of the best preserved medieval streets and plazas in
the region and it is one of very few cities with two cathedrals. The city also
holds well known festivals such as the Azkena rock festival, FesTVal,
Vitoria-Gasteiz jazz festival, and the Virgen Blanca Festivities.

Vitoria-Gasteiz's vicinity is home to world-renowned wineries such as

Ysios (by Santiago Calatrava) and the Marqués de Riscal Hotel (by Frank
Gehry); relevant heritage sites including the Neolithic remains of
Aizkomendi, Sorginetxe and La chabola de la Hechicera; Iron Age remains
such as the settlements of Lastra and Buradón; antique remains such as the
settlement of La Hoya and the salt valley of Añana; and several medieval
fortresses including the Tower of Mendoza and the Tower of Varona.

Beethoven dedicated his Opus 91, often called the "Battle of Vitoria" or
"Wellington's Victory", to one of the most famous events of the Napoleonic
Wars: the Battle of Vitoria, in which a Spanish, Portuguese and British
army under the command of General the Duke of Wellington broke the
French army and nearly captured the puppet king Joseph Bonaparte. It was Flag Coat of arms
a pivotal point in the Peninsular War, and a precursor to the expulsion of
the French army from Spain. A memorial statue can be seen today in Motto(s): Haec est Victoria quae vincit
Virgen Blanca Square. (This is Victoria which triumphs)

Vitoria-
Gasteiz
Contents
Name
History
Spanish Civil War
Transition to democracy
Climate
Subdivisions
Councils Location of Vitoria-Gasteiz within Spain
/ the Basque Autonomous Country
Politics
Attractions
Economy and demographics
Culture
Music
Local festivities
Universities
Vitoria-
Infrastructures Gasteiz
Transportation
Roads
Railways
Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country)
Aviation
Urbanism
Sports
Green Capital
Twin towns – sister cities
Notable people
References Vitoria-
Gasteiz
External links

Vitoria-Gasteiz (Europe)
Name Coordinates: 42°51′N 2°41′W
Country Spain
The official name of Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compound name of its traditional Autonomous Basque
names in Spanish and Basque, respectively. By inhabitants, it is still community Country
generally referred to as either Vitoria or Gasteiz, depending on the Province Álava
language spoken. More rarely, it may be referred to by Basque speakers as Comarca Vitoria-Gasteiz
Vitorixe, a Basque form of the Spanish name.
Founded 1181
Government
History • Alcalde Gorka Urtaran
(Basque Nationalist
In 581 AD, the Visigoth king Liuvigild founded the city of Victoriacum, Party)
trying to emulate the Roman foundations, as a celebration of the victory Area
against the Vascones near what is assumed to be the hill occupied by the • Total 276.81 km2
primitive village of Gasteiz. This however is not sufficiently proven, and (106.88 sq mi)
some historians and experts believe that Victoriacum was located not on the Elevation 525 m (1,722 ft)
site of present-day Vitoria-Gasteiz but nearby. Several possible locations
Population (2018)[1]
have been proposed, the foremost of which is the late Roman military camp
• Total 249,176
of Iruña-Veleia (cf. J.M. Lacarra). Veleia is located some 11 km north of
• Density 900/km2
modern Vitoria, on the banks of the same river. However, modern (2,300/sq mi)
archeological studies of the site suggest that Veleia was last inhabited c.5th
century AD, and archeologists are still to find a 6th-century visigothic Demonym(s) Basque: gasteiztar
Spanish: vitoriano,
resettlement in the site.[2] Another theory has suggested that Victoriacum vitoriana
was located at the foot of Mount Gorbea where there is a village called
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
Vitoriano. The town of Armentia, nowadays in the outskirts of Vitoria, has
• Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
also been proposed as a possible location of Victoriacum.[3] In either case,
Victoriacum vanishes from history shortly after its foundation.[4] Postal code 01001–01015
Official Spanish, Basque
In 1181, Sancho the Wise, King of Navarre founded the town of Nova language(s)
Victoria as a defensive outpost on top of a hill at the site of the previous Website Official website (htt
settlement of Gasteiz. The existence of Gastehiz, apparently inhabited by p://www.vitoria-gast
vasconic people,[5] can be traced back to the lower Middle Ages; it is eiz.org/)
certain that by the 11th century, prior to the foundation of Nova Victoria,
the settlement was already walled. It is assumed that Sancho the Wise gave the new city its name in memory of the old
settlement of Victoriacum, which must had long since been abandoned.[4] In 1199, the town was besieged for nine
months and eventually captured by the troops of Alfonso VIII of Castile, who annexed the town to the Kingdom of
Castile. The town was progressively enlarged and in 1431 it was granted a city charter by King Juan II of Castile. In
1463, it was one of the five founding villas of the Brotherhood of Álava alongside Sajazarra, Miranda de Ebro,
Pancorbo and Salvatierra/Agurain.

The Battle of Vitoria of the Peninsular War occurred near Vitoria-Gasteiz along
the river Zadorra on 21 June 1813. An allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish
army under General the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army under
Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. The victory assured the
eventual end of French control in Spain. There is a monument commemorating
this battle in the main square of the city known as the Monument to
Independence.

Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 17th century

When news came to Vienna in late July of that year, Johann Nepomuk Mälzel
commissioned Ludwig van Beethoven to compose a symphony, the op. 91
Wellingtons Sieg oder die Schlacht bei Vittoria (Wellington's Victory, or the
Battle of Vitoria) or Siegessymphonie.

Work began on the Institute for Middle Education in 1843, with classes beginning during the 1853–54 academic year. It
is now current headquarters of the Basque Parliament and formerly the convent of Santa Clara. The Free University
opened in the wake of the revolution of 1868. The university operated from 1869, to just prior to the 1873–1874 term,
largely because of the second Carlist War. Chief academics were Ricardo Becerro de Bengoa, Julián Apraiz, Federico
Baraibar, and so on. This latter, great Hellenist (1851–1918), was also among the first teachers of Basque in Vitoria-
Gasteiz as an off-syllabus subject.

Spanish Civil War

At the start of the Spanish Civil War Álava and Vitoria were easily captured by the rebel Nationalists led by General
Angel García Benítez, assisted by Colonel Camilo Alonso Vega.[6] Vitoria was captured on 19 July 1936.[7] In
November 1936 an attempt by Republicans to retake Vitoria was thwarted after being spotted by Nationalist
reconnaissance aircraft.[8] The 1937 Nationalist campaign in Vizcaya was supported by 80 German aircraft based at
Vitoria,[9] where the Condor Legion fighter wing was concentrated.[10]

Transition to democracy

During the Spanish transition to democracy, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi was the scene of a police shooting on
March 3, 1976 during a peaceful labour assembly. Under the orders of Interior Minister Manuel Fraga, the police shot
tear-gas into the church where 5,000 demonstrators and others had reunited, firing on them as they struggled their way
out of the religious temple. It resulted in five dead and over one hundred wounded by gunshot.[11][12]

On 20 May 1980, by decision of the Basque Parliament, Vitoria-Gasteiz became the place of the common institutions of
the Basque Autonomous Community.

Climate
Vitoria-Gasteiz has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb). Winters are much cooler than in lowland
coastal areas, whilst summers are similar in terms of high temperatures, with cool nights due to the elevation. Summers
show a significant influence of mediterranean precipitation patterns, but enough precipitation usually occurs to remain
marine in nature. Sunshine levels are low by Spanish standards and the climate is humid year-round.
 Climate data for Foronda-Txokiza 513m (1981–2010)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Record high 18.7 21.5 26.6 29.1 33.0 37.4 38.4 40.8 37.2 29.3 22.2 20.3 40.8
°C (°F) (65.7) (70.7) (79.9) (84.4) (91.4) (99.3) (101.1) (105.4) (99.0) (84.7) (72.0) (68.5) (105.4)

Average 8.7 10.3 13.7 15.4 19.3 23.0 25.7 25.9 23.1 18.3 12.4 9.1 17.1
high °C (°F) (47.7) (50.5) (56.7) (59.7) (66.7) (73.4) (78.3) (78.6) (73.6) (64.9) (54.3) (48.4) (62.8)

Daily mean 4.9 5.7 8.2 9.8 13.3 16.6 19.0 19.2 16.6 12.9 8.2 5.5 11.7
°C (°F) (40.8) (42.3) (46.8) (49.6) (55.9) (61.9) (66.2) (66.6) (61.9) (55.2) (46.8) (41.9) (53.1)

Average low 1.2 1.1 2.7 4.1 7.2 10.2 12.3 12.5 10.1 7.5 4.0 1.9 6.2
°C (°F) (34.2) (34.0) (36.9) (39.4) (45.0) (50.4) (54.1) (54.5) (50.2) (45.5) (39.2) (35.4) (43.2)

Record low −17.8 −15.4 −9.2 −3.8 −2.2 1.0 3.2 0.8 0.2 −2.7 −9.4 −11.5 −17.8
°C (°F) (0.0) (4.3) (15.4) (25.2) (28.0) (33.8) (37.8) (33.4) (32.4) (27.1) (15.1) (11.3) (0.0)

Average
75 63 63 73 70 43 38 39 41 71 91 82 742
precipitation
(3.0) (2.5) (2.5) (2.9) (2.8) (1.7) (1.5) (1.5) (1.6) (2.8) (3.6) (3.2) (29.2)
mm (inches)

Average
precipitation
10 10 8 11 9 6 4 5 6 9 11 11 99
days
(≥ 1 mm)

Average
3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 11
snowy days

Average
relative
83 79 72 72 71 70 70 70 72 77 82 84 75
humidity
(%)

Mean
monthly
83 108 148 163 196 218 244 226 178 144 92 75 1,886
sunshine
hours

Source: Agencia Estatal de Meterología[13]

Subdivisions

Councils

The municipality of Victoria has subsumed a number of rural villages, which are preserved as councils, retaining a
certain degree of administrative autonomy.[14][15]

Abetxuko Arriaga-Lakua
Aberásturi Ascarza
Ali-Gobeo Asteguieta
Amárita Berrosteguieta
Andollu Betoño
Antezana de Foronda Bolívar
Arambizcarra Castillo
Aránguiz Cerio
Arcaute Crispijana
Arkaia Elorriaga
Arechavaleta Eskibel
Argandoña Estarrona
Aríñez Foronda
Armentia Gamarra Mayor
 Gamarra Menor Mendiguren
Gámiz Mendiola
Gardelegi Mendoza
Gobeo Miñano Mayor
Gomecha Miñano Menor
Guereña Monasterioguren
Hueto Abajo Oreitia
Hueto Arriba Mendiola
Ilárraza Otazu
Junguitu Retana
Lasarte Subijana de Álava
Legarda Ullíbarri Arrazua
Lermanda Ullibarri de los Olleros
Lopidana Ullívarri Viñaes
Lubiano Villafranca de Estíbaliz
Margarita Yurre
Mártioda Zuazo de Vitoria
Matauco Zumelzu

Politics
In 2019, Gorka Urturan (EAJ-PNV) (https://www.eaj-pnv.eus/), was re-elected to a four-year term as Mayor in coalition
with the PSOE (http://www.psoe.es). The current municipal council composition is as follows:

EAJ-PNV (https://www.eaj-pnv.eus/) 7

PSOE (http://www.psoe.es) 6

EH Bildu 6

Partido Popular (https://www.pp.es/) 5

Unidas Podemos 3[16]

Attractions
Cathedral of Santa Maria (Old Cathedral), a 14th-century Gothic
building with a 17th-century tower. Under the pórtico are three open
doorways decorated with statues and reliefs. In the interior, chapels
containing Gothic, Flemish and Italian Renaissance images
including paintings by Rubens and van Dyck. The cathedral is
undergoing restoration and has been studied by experts from
around the world for its architectural curiosities, including those
deformations which it has suffered due to previous restorations.
Cathedral of María Inmaculada of Vitoria (New Cathedral), built and
consecrated in the 20th century, in Gothic revival style.
San Miguel Arcangel Church and the
Andre Maria Zuriaren plaza/Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. It is a Virgen Blanca Square
square to which converge some of the most typical streets of the old
town and the 19th-century city expansion and is surrounded by old
houses with glass verandas. At its center stands a monument commemorating the Battle of Vitoria.
Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Álava, located in Cathedral of María Inmaculada ambulatory, houses
samples of religious art heritage of the province, divided into sections of stone carving, wood carving,
painting on wood, paint on canvas, jewelry and furniture liturgical.
Church of St. Peter the Apostle (14th century) in Gothic style. The Old Portico, with a set of reliefs
depicting scenes from the lives of St. Peter and the Virgin Mary, run under the pictures of the Virgin and
 the apostles.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel (14th–16th centuries), in
Gothic-Renaissance style. Its portico has an image of the Virgen
Blanca, patron saint of the city. Inside is an altarpiece by Gregorio
Fernández.
Church of San Vicente Mártir. A late Gothic building from the 15th
and 16th centuries.
Church of the Carmen. A neoclassical temple built between 1897
and 1900.
Portal de Betoño Street in August.
Basilica of San Prudencio. Its original construction dates to the 12th Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country,
century, but it was rebuilt in the 18th century. The temple houses Spain
sculptural samples from different eras and artists.
Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora of Estibaliz. Located in the town of
Argandoña, 8 kilometres (5 miles) from Vitoria-Gasteiz, it dates to the 11th century.
Convent of Saint Anthony. A Clares nunnery from the 17th century.
Convent of Santa Cruz. Dominican nunnery from the 17th century.
Former hospice (16th–17th centuries), originally the Colegio de San Prudencio.
Old Portico, Church of San Pedro.
Casa del Cordón, an example of civil Gothic architecture. It was built in the 15th century, but has kept a
tower from the 13th century. The Catholic Monarchs stayed here, and Adrian VI was named Pope while
residing here.
Basque Museum of Contemporary Art (Artium). Its permanent collection is considered one of the best
and most important contemporary art in Basque and Spanish. It was inaugurated on April 26, 2002.
Museum of Natural Sciences, located in the Tower of Otxanda Andrea, an example of medieval
architecture. It is also a center for research and dissemination of Natural Sciences.
Museum of Archaeology, located in a house of wood lattice from the 16th century. The exhibition
includes dolmens, Roman sculptures found in Álava, and medieval pieces.
Fournier Museum of Playing Cards, in the Bendaña palace. Vitoria-Gasteiz is known for the
manufacture of playing cards. More than 6,000 cards are displayed in the museum.
Museum of Fine Arts, housed in a Renaissance mansion. It displays 14th-century carvings, Flemish
16th-century triptychs, panels of Spanish masters such as Jusepe de Ribera and modern Spanish
paintings.
Arms Museum of Álava is home to weapons from various ages, from prehistoric axes to 20th-century
handguns. There is a large collection of medieval weaponry and reconstruction of the Battle of Vitoria.
Montehermoso Cultural Center, housed in restored 16th-century buildings, formerly headquarters of the
Diocese of Vitoria. In 1997, with the annexation of the former water tank, the property became the
Montehermoso Cultural Center, designed as a space for art exhibitions and musical performances.
Plaza de España or Plaza Nueva. A large arcaded plaza designed by the architect Antonio de
Olaguibel in 1781 and designed to unite the old town with the new Story, then under construction.
Plaza de los Fueros. A triangular square used as a market and for other entertainment activities. It was
designed by Eduardo Chillida.
The Arkupe/Arquillos. This road was built with porticoes between the 18th and 19th centuries.
Ajuria Enea, the seat of President of the Basque Government (Lehendakari) since 1980. It was built in
1918 as the main residence of the family of the local entrepreneur Serafin Ajuria, and it is a fine example
of the Basque architecture of the period.
Ataria, an information and interpretation centre for the wetlands of Salburua, an important nature park on
the eastern edge of the city.
The Great Sequoia, a 40-metre tall tree dating back to 1860
At the squatted neighbourhood of Errekaleor Bizirik, there are murals by artists including Blu.[17]
Victims of Terrorism Memorial Centre, opened by the King and Queen of Spain on 1 June 2021.[18]

Economy and demographics

The economy of Vitoria-Gasteiz is diverse, and many manufacturing companies have operations there, including
Mercedes-Benz, Michelin, Gamesa, and Heraclio Fournier, the latter being headquartered there. The city has been
ranked second in standard of living among all cities in Spain, and first as to green areas and cultural places per capita.

Culture

Music

Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts two annual international music festivals:

The International Music Festival/Course Vitoria-Gasteiz (http://www.

vitoriamusic.com), from 18 to 27 July (the 2011 Edition)
The Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, from 10 to 16 July (the 2011
Edition).
The Azkena rock festival, on 29 & 30 June (the 2013 Edition).

Streets in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Local festivities

The Andre Maria Zuriaren jaiak/Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca festival is

celebrated every year from the 4th to the 9th of August in honour of the patron saint of
the city, and features a programme of special events, activities and free open-air
concerts.

San Prudencio Festival is also celebrated in late April..

Universities

The liberal arts section of the University of the Basque Country is based in the south
part of the city. Focusing on history and linguistics, the Álava campus is also home of
the Faculty of Pharmacy, as well as some other technical, teaching and business related
Andre Maria Zuriaren jaiak
degrees.
festival
Its origins date back to 1847 when the first Escuela Normal de Maestros de Álava was
established. A number of other colleges and faculties were adopted in 1978 by the
emerging University of the Basque Country.

Infrastructures

Transportation

In the urban area of Vitoria-Gasteiz there is modern and accessible-for-all public transport, in the form of trams and city
buses.

Roads

By road: Vitoria-Gasteiz is connected both with the rest of the Basque capital and with Madrid, because the city is a step
on the N-1/A-1. There are two motorways in their municipality and a future motorway service: The N-1 Madrid-Irun,
the N-622 Vitoria-Altube and its connection with the AP-68 Logroño-Bilbao, and as of the end of 2009, the new AP-1
between Vitoria and Eibar, an attempt to alleviate the problems caused by congested traffic on the N-1/A-1.

Railways
Vitoria-Gasteiz railway station is one of the main stops on the Madrid–Hendaye
railway. Half a dozen trains each day link the city with Madrid, using Alvia
trains on the AVE infrastructure to reach Madrid in 3 hours 43 minutes. There
are also connections to Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Bordeaux. There is a
complete lack of rail services to Andalusia and no direct rail link with Bilbao.

A municipal tram service is operated by Euskotren Tranbia.

The Basque Y high-speed rail network is planned to connect Vitoria-Gasteiz

with the French border, San Sebastián and Bilbao within 35 minutes. However, Railway station of Vitoria-Gasteiz
work on this project has been slow and there is no date for its inaugural run.[19]

Aviation

The Vitoria Airport is 4th in Spain in cargo traffic. Almost all passenger flights use Bilbao Airport (50 minutes away by
car), which is the 2nd most important base for Vueling, with the second highest number of destinations offered and 4
million passengers traffic.

Urbanism

From an urban point of view, Vitoria-Gasteiz is a mid-sized city, the line of

which is adapted to the traditions of each historical moment. The medieval town
is set in almond-shape around the hill foundation, which by its privileged
position as the only elevation in the plain of Álava, became a defensive
stronghold coveted by the kingdoms of Navarre and Castilla during the 11th
and 12th centuries. The walled enclosure was built prior to the war between
Castile and Navarre in the 11th century to defend the village. The defensive
walls of old Gasteiz were built between the years 1050 and 1100. Because of
that first defensive role, its narrow streets surrounding the oval resulted in Boulevard of Salburua
compact rows of houses parallel both to each other and the medieval walls (of
which only some sections and gates are preserved). Between the years 1854
and 1856, an epidemic of cholera served as the excuse for tearing down the
gates, fortresses which provided access to the streets Run (fort of Nanclares),
Shoe (fort of Soto) and Blacksmith (fort of Abendaño) and which served to
protect every neighbourhood association. The entrance of the current Plaza de
la Virgen Blanca was the site of Santa Clara, which was joined by the wall at
the Convent of San Antonio. In the 19th century, in recognition that the city
was small, an expansion was planned in the neoclassical style, and little by little
planning for the city has given Vitoria-Gasteiz its current form.
Abetxuko Bridge
The Old Quarter (Alde Zaharra/Casco Viejo), has many architectural jewels
such as Bendaña Palace, the Fournier Museum of cards (erected in 1525 by
Juan Lopez de Arrieta, on the site occupied before by the defensive tower built by Maeztu). The Ezkoriatza-Eskibel
Palace, built by Claudio de Arciniega in the 15th century. The Villa Suso, where Martin Salinas, ambassador of Charles
V dwelt (16th century). And the greatest historical treasure of Vitoria-Gasteiz: the Cathedral of Santa Maria (Old
Cathedral).

The history of the Cathedral of Santa María (commonly known as Old Cathedral), is itself a synthesis of the history of
Vitoria-Gasteiz. Built on the cemetery of the primitive village of Gasteiz (which today can be accessed through the
excavations), the church of Santa María collapsed with the fire of 1202, and Alfonso VIII of Castile (who had
conquered the city just 2 years earlier), ordered that it be rebuilt at the site of a former church that was to serve two very
different purposes: regular religious services and weapon storage. Thus was born the Cathedral of Santa Maria, a
fortress-like church that served as the entrance to the city. The project changed with the centuries, so that each
modification was made without taking into account the previous. This was the case in the 15th century (when the church
became collegiate), and finally in the 1960s, when it was decided to reverse the previous works of strengthening of the
external walls and widen the windows, made purely for aesthetic reasons, which had severely damaged the stability of
the building. Today, the cathedral is open again, and offers visitors guided trips exposing the recent archaeological
findings. It has become one of the main attractions of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Ken Follett, author of "The Pillars of the Earth",
said after his stay in the city that Santa Maria was one of the three most interesting cathedrals of the world.

From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, the population of Vitoria-Gasteiz and the layout of its streets remained almost
unchanged. And it was not until the late 18th century, when growth required the expansion of the city outside. To solve
the problem of the difference in height between the original kernel on the hill, and the plain below, the arches were
erected and the Plaza De España or Plaza Nueva was built, which soften the transition from the old city to the 19th
century neoclassical expansion of wide streets and gardens, the greatest examples of which are seen in the Park of La
Florida, and the Andre Maria Zuriaren Enparantza/Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, with its façade pulled viewpoints.

Finally, the new quarters of Vitoria-Gasteiz were built, in accordance with a development plan favouring parks,
recreation areas and quality of life. While aiming to maintain the identity of the city, and drawing on the district of San
Martín, the need to accommodate the growing population has led the city to concentrate its growth in the new
neighbourhoods of Lakua, Salburua and Zabalgan. The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz has received several international awards
for its urban development. Also worth mentioning is the green ring, a network of parks and green spaces around the city,
destined to be the lung of the future Vitoria-Gasteiz, and link the city with the countryside. This ring is formed of the
parks Salburua, Zabalgana, Armentia, Alegria river, Gamarra, Abetxuko and Atxa-Landaberde.

Sports
Deportivo Alavés, football team playing in the Segunda División in
2015–16, where they finished first, gaining promotion to La Liga for
the 2016–17 season. Their home matches are played in the
Mendizorrotza Stadium, with training facilities at the Ciudad
Deportiva José Luis Compañón (Ibaia) on the edge of town. Other
local teams play at the Betoño Sports Complex near the city centre,
while Aurrerá and CD Vitoria are based at Olaranbe, another
development on the periphery.
Baskonia, basketball team playing in the top professional Spanish Fernando Buesa Arena
basketball division Liga Endesa and in the top professional
European basketball division Turkish Airlines EuroLeague in 2015–
16, where they finished fourth in the two competitions. Home matches are played in the Fernando
Buesa Arena.
Araski, women's basketball team playing in the top professional Spanish league Liga Femenina
Endesa. Home matches are played in the Polideportivo Mendizorrotza.

Green Capital
Vitoria-Gasteiz held the title of European Green Capital in 2012 due to the high proportion of green public areas,
ensuring that the entire population lives within 300m of an open green space, its biodiversity and ecosystems services, as
well as for the city's green policies.[20]

Twin towns – sister cities

Vitoria-Gasteiz is twinned with:[21]

Anaheim, United States Ibagué, Colombia

Angoulême, France Victoria, United States
Cogo, Equatorial Guinea Vitória, Brazil
La Güera, Western Sahara

Notable people
Ignacio Hidalgo de Cisneros (1896–1966), aviator
Ramiro de Maeztu (1875–1936), political theorist and journalist
 Lourdes Oñederra (1958), Basque linguist, professor and writer
Martín Fiz (1963), World marathon champion 1995
Tania Lamarca (1980), rhythmic gymnast, Olympic champion with the Spanish group at the 1996
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and two times world champion
Estíbaliz Martínez (1980), rhythmic gymnast, Olympic champion with the Spanish group at the 1996
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and two times world champion
Almudena Cid (1980), rhythmic gymnast now retired, eight-time national champion; participated in four
Olympic finals at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, also took part in 9 world
championships and 12 European championships
Lorena Guréndez (1981), rhythmic gymnast, Olympic champion with the Spanish group at the 1996
Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and two times world champion.
Isabel de Urquiola (1854–1911), explorer

References
1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
2. Moreno, Luis A. García; Fernández, Luis Suárez (10 March 2018). Leovigildo: unidad y diversidad de un
reinado (https://books.google.com/books?id=u-X4dkALGsAC&q=Victoriacum). Real Academia de la
Historia. ISBN 9788496849402 – via Google Books.
3. "Nova Victoria - Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia" (http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/98647).
4. Moreno, Luis A. García; Fernández, Luis Suárez (10 March 2018). Leovigildo: unidad y diversidad de un
reinado (https://books.google.com/books?id=u-X4dkALGsAC&q=Victoriaco&pg=PA148). Real
Academia de la Historia. ISBN 9788496849402 – via Google Books.
5. S. Villimer: Vitoria, historia de una ciudad, p. 160 (Vitoria 1977).
6. Thomas, Hugh (2012). The Spanish Civil War (50th Anniversary ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 226.
ISBN 978-0-141-01161-5.
7. Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7538-
2165-7.
8. Beevor (2006) p.251
9. Thomas (2012) p.596
10. Beevor (2006) p.253
11. "Masacre del 3 de marzo en Vitoria-Gasteiz (1976)" (http://catalogo.artium.org/dossieres/4/fotoperiodism
o-la-realidad-captada-por-el-objetivo/fotografias-con-historia/masacre-del-). Artium. 2010. Retrieved
2016-07-14.
12. Malaina, Guillermo (2008-02-13). "Los fantasmas de Fraga" (http://www.publico.es/espana/fantasmas-fr
aga.html). Público. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
13. "Balio Klimatologiko Normalak. Foronda-Txokiza" (http://www.aemet.es/eu/serviciosclimaticos/datoscli
matologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=9091O&k=pva). AEMET. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
14. Junta Electoral del territorio histórico de Álava (https://www.araba.eus/botha/Boletines/2013/141/2013_
141_06218.pdf). Boletín Oficial del Territorio Histórico de Álava. 10 de diciembre de 2013. Consultado
el 26 de abril de 2016.
15. Nombres oficiales de municipios y entidades de población del País Vasco (http://www1.euskadi.net/eus
kara_udalerriak/consulta/consultaBDMuni.asp?accion=Consultar#)
16. "Sitio web del Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz - el Pleno - Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz" (https://ww
w.vitoria-gasteiz.org/wb021/was/contenidoAction.do?idioma=es&uid=b92259d_117e94b7b41__7ffb).
17. "Escif and Blu for Errekaleor Bizirik" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190616120805/https://www.juxtapo
z.com/news/street-art/escif-and-blu-for-errekaleor-bizirik/). Juxtapoz Magazine. 30 August 2017.
Archived from the original (https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/street-art/escif-and-blu-for-errekaleor-bizirik/)
on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
18. "Inauguration of the Victims of Terrorism Memorial Centre in Vitoria" (https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lan
g/en/presidente/news/Paginas/2021/20210601memorial-centre.aspx). Government of Spain.
19. Gorospe, Pedro (21 December 2016). "The Basque Y: the very slow tale of a very fast train" (https://elpai
s.com/elpais/2016/12/16/inenglish/1481896291_373992.html). El Pais. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
20. "European Green Capital" (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2012-v
itoria-gasteiz/).
21. "Vitoria se hermana con la Capital colombiana de la música" (https://www.gasteizhoy.com/vitoria-se-her
mana-con-la-capital-americana-de-la-musica/). gasteizhoy.com (in Spanish). Gasteiz Hoy. 2013-05-31.
Retrieved 2020-02-14.

External links
Media related to Vitoria-Gasteiz at Wikimedia Commons
Vitoria-Gasteiz travel guide from Wikivoyage
Official web site of Vitoria-Gasteiz (http://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/)
Website of the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council - Tourism (http://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/we001/was/we001A
ction.do?idioma=en&accionWe001=ficha&accion=turismo)
Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Auñamendi Basque Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (http://www.euskome
dia.org/aunamendi/129410)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vitoria-Gasteiz&oldid=1038343355"

This page was last edited on 12 August 2021, at 00:23 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you
agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit
organization.