Vitoria-Gasteiz: green city, Gothic cathedral, and ARTIUM museum in Spain's Basque Country

Key facts

• Vitoria-Gasteiz became the administrative capital of the Basque Country in 1980.
• The city was founded in 1181 and has a medieval quarter called Almendra Medieval.
• Catedral de Santa Maria is a Gothic cathedral that inspired Ken Follett's novel 'World Without End'.
• A life-sized statue of Ken Follett stands in front of the cathedral.
• Vitoria-Gasteiz has 42 sq m of green space per inhabitant, 170 km of bike lanes, and 115,000 trees.
• The city was European Green Capital in 2012 and Global Green City in 2019.
• ARTIUM museum opened in 2002 in a former brutalist bus station and holds nearly 3,000 works.
• ARTIUM's collection includes works by Dalí, Miró, Tàpies, Barceló, Basterretxea, Jorge Oteiza, and Eduardo Chillida.
• Miguel Navarro's sculpture 'La mirada' (2001) is at ARTIUM's entrance.
• Javier Pérez's 'Un pedazo de cielo cristalizado' (2002) hangs in ARTIUM's atrium, previously shown at the Spanish Pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2001.
• Esther Ferrer's 'Números primos' (2023) is installed in ARTIUM's internal garden, comprising about 10,000 ceramic pieces.
• Museo de Bellas Artes de Álava is housed in Palacio Augustin-Zulueta (built 1912-1916) and focuses on 18th-19th century Spanish art and Basque costumbrism (1850-1950).
• The museum features works from the Museo del Prado and Fundación Fernando de Amárica.
• Artists represented include Vicente López, Joaquín Sorolla, Carlos de Haes, Ignacio Zuloaga, and Gustavo de Maeztu.
• The Jazz Festival runs July 14-19, 2025, and is part of the International Jazz Festival Organization.
• August festivities take place August 4-9, 2025, at Plaza de la Virgen Blanca.
• Other cultural sites include BIBAT museum, Museo Fournier de Naipes, Memorial Centre for Victims of Terrorism, and Palacio de Congresos Europa.