Palacio de Augustin-Zulueta - Bendaña Palace holds a museum dedicated to Playing Cards 20.9.1994

Each of theseFDC two FDCs has two stamps of a set of four. Each of them displays one card from a deck of cards. These stamps were issued on the Inauguration of the Museum of Cards at Vitoria.

Unfortunately, Vitoria-Gasteiz is often overshadowed by the other more prominent Basque cities. But it has a lot to offer. It's down to earth and it's got soul. It also boasts the best preserved medieval center of all the Basque Cities and impressive renaissance architecture. Vitoria-Gasteiz isn’t on the tourist radar yet and that only adds to its appeal and authenticity.

The old town is home to several palaces as well. Bendaña and Escoriaza-Esquivel Palaces are two excellent examples of renaissance architecture that should not be missed. Bendaña Palace holds a museum dedicated to playing cards. It is a rather peculiar subject for a museum, but is none the less interesting. Outside of the old town there are a few “newer” palaces that are also worth a mention, such as the Palacio de Augustin-Zulueta, which now houses the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Art). Located directly across the way, is the Ajuria Enea Palace where the Lehendakari (President of the Spanish Basque Country) resides. This building is off limits to visitors, but you can still catch a glimpse of it from the outside.

The city has really expanded in recent years and since Vitoria isn’t limited by any geographical boundaries, it has been easy for it to grow outward. Vitoria has developed into a suburb of sorts but instead of houses there are apartment buildings. As a result there are lots of open green areas. The most notable is the “green ring” that encompasses the city. For its number of green spaces, Vitoria was named the Green Capital of Europe in 2012 by the European Commission. 

Thank you Merja for these lovely FDCs.