La Florida

La Florida is the oldest and most cherished park in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque Country, sitting right at the edge of the old town in the very center of the city. Laid out in a neoclassical style influenced by Romantic French gardens, it has served as the city's green landmark for two centuries.

How did the park come to be?

The story starts small: in 1820, gardens were planted around a modest music kiosk. The real transformation came in 1855, when the grounds were expanded onto land that had once belonged to the Santa Clara convent. Architects Ángel Chávez, Juan de Velasco, Ramón Ortiz de Velasco and Manuel Arana shaped the layout into a network of winding, almost maze-like paths that weave past a grotto, an artificial waterfall, a small stream, and a bandstand plaza.

What are the highlights inside the park?

At the heart of La Florida stands an ornate metal bandstand dating from 1890, still used today for weekend concerts and open-air dances, and transformed into an ice rink each winter under festive lights. Nearby, four stone statues depict Visigothic kings — Sigeric, Liuva, Athaulf and Theodio — carved in the 18th century for Madrid's Royal Palace before being redistributed across Spain; they arrived in Vitoria in 1821 thanks to Ignacio María de Álava.

What kind of plant life grows here?

The park is known for its remarkable botanical variety, home to nearly a hundred different tree species, from Lebanon cedars and giant redwoods to horse chestnuts and willows. Its most striking specimen is a century-old walnut tree standing 30 meters tall. Birdlife is abundant too, with more than twenty species recorded, including tawny owls and blackbirds.

How has the park changed over time?

Across two centuries, La Florida has undergone several restorations aimed at preserving its original character, including work on its central pond and ornamental fountains. Despite these updates, it has kept the spatial layout and atmosphere of a 19th-century Romantic garden, making it one of the most visited spots in the city today, popular with residents and travelers alike.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is La Florida park located? The park sits in the heart of Vitoria-Gasteiz, right along the edge of the old town, close to the railway station and the city's main shopping streets.

Does anything happen in the park regularly? Yes — the bandstand hosts live music and open-air dances on weekends, and during the Christmas season the park hosts an ice rink and a large nativity scene with more than two hundred life-size figures.

How old is the park? The first plantings date to 1820, with its current form established after the 1855 expansion, giving it more than two hundred years of history.

What is the park's biggest natural attraction? A century-old, 30-meter walnut tree, along with the sheer diversity of its trees — nearly a hundred species, including Lebanon cedars and giant redwoods.