Gothic paintings of Ribera (Valdegovía)

The historical moment when the gothic style became popular is related with the advanced town planning that was already occurring in Álava.

In religious architecture, the first Álava Gothic building is located in Santa Cruz de Campezo, with the PARISH CHURCH of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción; in Salvatierra there are two notable CHURCHES, Santa María and San Juan, which present singular doorways. Santa María del Yermo (Llodio) is outstanding because of the countryside where it is located and its advanced Gothic construction.

Mendoza Tower

Especially outstanding is the Church of Santa María de los Reyes (Laguardia), with a beautifully sculpted and polychrome doorway. The town's tourist office can organise guided tours.

Also worthy of mention is the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Encina, in Artziniega, which houses a Flemish-Gothic style altarpiece.

Santa María de los Reyes (Laguardia)

The evolution of this style left works in Vitoria-Gasteiz, with the CATHEDRAL of Santa María, and the PARISH CHURCHES of San Miguel, San Vicente and San Pedro worthy of highlight.

Some of the best examples of painting can be found in CHURCHES such as Gaceo and Ribera (religious), and Alaiza (warfare) with murals of great quality in their apses.

Cathedral of Santa María (Vitoria-Gasteiz)

As for civil architecture, characteristic buildings are the castles, towers and ancestral homes that abound around the territory. Noteworthy TOWERS include those of Mendoza, Mártioda and Guevara, from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Mendoza is the oldest of the towers and houses the Álava Heraldry Museum.

Palace of the Ayala Family (Quejana)

The Tower-Palace of the Varona (Villanañe), is presented as the best conserved fortified site in Álava. The Middle Ages left its mark, amongst others, on walled towns such as Laguardia, Salvatierra, Labraza, Antoñana and Peñacerrada. A special mention is merited by the Mediaeval Site of the Ayala family en Quejana, formed by the palace, castle and monastery.

Tower of the Varona Family (Villanañe)

Back in Vitoria-Gasteiz, visitors can see the mediaeval remains in the old centre, with an almond-shaped layout and a set of Gothic style monuments. Also worthy of note, El Portalón, the Tower of Doña Otxanda, today home to the Natural Science Museum, and the Tower of the Anda Family, the oldest civil building in existence in the capital.

El Portalón