One city, two art galleries

Art lovers are usually pleasantly surprised when visiting Vitoria-Gasteiz. Many find themselves experiencing the excitement of a gold prospector who, after much time panning in streams without any success, suddenly finds two giant gold nuggets that inject them with enthusiasm.

The Artium Museum is a reference point in the world of contemporary art museums. It houses a collection of almost 3,000 works of art, most of which are by Basque and Spanish artists. Here, culture lovers can drink in without haste (and without stress) works of art by Picasso, Miró, Barceló or Elena del Rivero as well as Chillida, Oteiza, Cristina Iglesias, Txomin Badiola, Richard Serra and Bill Viola. 

Located on the Paseo de Fray Francisco of the Golden Mile of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Fine Arts Museum of Álava resides in one of the most beautiful palaces of the city: the Augustín Zulueta Palace. It specializes in Basque art between 1850 and 1950. The painter Ignacio Díaz Olano, a key figure in the Álava painting scene, holds a special place here, along with others such as Juan Ángel Sáez, Juan de Barroeta, and Antonio Mª de Lecuona.