From this month you have one more reason to visit the traditional and lush Basque Country on the Camino de Santiago. The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) has just been designated as next-year’s Spanish Gastronomy Capital 2013, beating out rival cities Valencia, Huesca and Sant Carles de la Rápita (Tarragona).

Apart from having a host of green spaces (vouched for by its nomination as European Green Capital 2012), Vitoria-Gasteiz also has an attractive gastronomic offer, ranging from small miniature delights (the pintxopote must not be missed), and historical cake and pastry establishments like Goya, La Peña Dulce or Sosoaga, to famous restaurants and carveries, wine cellars, etc.Not forgetting Rioja Alavesa wines, which have become an icon in the area.

The city of Burgos in Castile-León will step down as the 2013 Spanish Gastronomy Capital this month, making way for its successor, Vitoria (Basque Country), a city that was selected for its promotion of creative projects bolstered by 140 of the area’s most significant professional chefs, as well as local culinary school students, public entities and private businesses. These promotional activities have played out in a series of 41 events, celebrations and gastronomic fairs that all held a role in convincing the jury that this city is ready to represent Spain as a top-notch gastronomic destination.

Vitoria is now the third Spanish city to hold the designation of Capital Española de la Gastronomía. This designation was created last year by the Federación Española de Hostelería (Spanish Restaurant Industry Federation) and the Federación Española de Periodistas y Escritores de Turismo (Spanish Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers), to promote this country’s magnificent gastronomy on both a national and international level.