1. A visit to the Monument to the Battle of Vitoria, in the heart of the city at Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. This iconic landmark commemorates one of the decisive battles of the Peninsular War, in which the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon's troops in 1813.
2. The Murals Route — street art that decorates the facades of buildings across the city, turning Vitoria-Gasteiz into The Painted City. Each mural hides a secret or a legend. One of the most striking, titled "Al Hilo del Viento" ("On the Thread of the Wind"), is located in Plaza de la Burullería, at the foot of Santa María Cathedral, depicting colourful fabrics and cloths as a tribute to the medieval markets once held in the square.
3. The Arquillos Promenade — a covered arcade street with balconies where the composer Sebastián Iradier spent the last years of his life. Built in the 18th century, this architectural gem was designed to bridge the steep difference in height between Vitoria-Gasteiz's medieval old town, perched on a hill, and the newer city below.
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| Sky blue in the sky and on the ceiling of Los Arquillos. Photo by Alfredo Ruiz |
4. The Casa del Cordón, on Cuchillería Street — a building that conceals within its walls the tragic story of its wealthy owners, a family of converted Jews. Legend has it that the first owner, Pedro Sánchez de Bilbao, deliberately built the entrance door very low (1.70 m) so that noblemen would have to bow their heads upon entering his home. The spectacular Gothic star-vaulted dome on the main floor is not to be missed.
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| Gothic star vault at the Casa del Cordón, Vitoria-Gasteiz |
5. The Tower of San Vicente — built between the 15th and 16th centuries in Gothic style, it has 107 steps. Climb to the top for sweeping views over the medieval Almendra and to understand why Vitoria's old town earned that name — its almond shape is perfectly visible from above. |
| View of the medieval Almendra of Vitoria-Gasteiz from the Tower of San Vicente |
6. The Cathedral of Santa María, also known as the Old Cathedral. Still undergoing restoration due to structural issues dating back to the 16th century, it offers visitors the rare privilege of watching conservation work up close. Ken Follett found his inspiration for The Pillars of the Earth sequel, World Without End, within these walls — and a bronze statue of the author now keeps a watchful eye over the ongoing works.
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| Ken Follett watches over the restoration works at Santa María Cathedral, Vitoria-Gasteiz |
7. Plaza del Machete — a beautiful and unsettling medieval corner where, in times gone by, city officials swore their oaths of office on the Gospels in the presence of the sharp instrument that gives the square its name. That very machete, still carefully preserved, served as a reminder that breaking their oath could cost them their head.
8. A walk through the Salburua Wetlands — part of the Green Belt that encircles the city and the symbol of Vitoria-Gasteiz's status as a European Green Capital. Home to over 200 bird species and a roaming herd of deer, it offers a surprising pocket of nature just minutes from the city centre.
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| Manada de ciervos en el Humedal de Salburua en Vitoria Gasteiz |
9. The Basque Parliament — housed in a striking neoclassical palace dating from the late 19th century, the seat of the Basque Country's autonomous government is open to visitors and well worth a stop. Free guided tours allow you to explore the historic chambers where Basque self-governance has been shaped, and the building's elegant architecture makes it one of the most photographed spots in the city.
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| The Basque Parliament, seat of the Basque Country's autonomous government, Vitoria-Gasteiz. Photo by Basotxerri / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA. |
10. Celedón — you cannot leave Vitoria-Gasteiz without saying hello to him. Every 4th of August, this beloved character — a villager from Zalduondo — descends from the bell tower of San Miguel church to a balcony in Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, officially launching the city's biggest festival, the Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca. His bronze statue stands in front of the church, gazing across at the patron saint he has honoured for generations.
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| Celedón, the villager from Zalduondo and star of the Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca, Vitoria-Gasteiz. |
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