Art & Culture
Cultural Heritage
The archaeological site of Iruña-Veleia, which is one of the most important spots in Alava and the Basque Country, covers 80 Ha. and gathers 1,500 years of history. Only 10 Km. from Vitoria-Gasteiz, it is located in Iruña de Oca, between Trespuentes and Villodas.
Above all, Iruña was a large indigenous settlement whose origin dates back to the 8th century B.C., by the late Bronze Age. During the Iron Age it expanded giving way to the construction of one of the most booming and vast urban areas of the territory.
The place is clearly divided into two parts: the fortified section, covering a little bit more than 11 Ha. and the area on the outskirts of the town. From the upper part of the wall the entire site is overlooked, which was declared Monumental Group in 1984.
The settlement underwent a lot of remodelling for centuries, but the most important development took place in the third century AD when the city wall was constructed, which was an 8 metre-high fortification with a perimeter of 1.5 km and 4.5-5.5 metre-thick walls. Nowadays, the remains of the rampart still preserve the foundations of 16 towers, where was located the access to the city, that is to say the South Gate.
Once the Western Roman Empire disappeared between the end of the 5th and 6th centuries, the population of Veleia decreased little by little.
Guided tours
They offer two types of guided tours to get to know the most emblematic corners of Iruña-Veleia, including the "Open Area" or outer area of the wall (where, amongst other spots, you can see the remains of what was once a large market), the wall itself and the Southern Gate.
Archaeological site
