Virgen Blanca Festivities, Vitoria-Gasteiz

Vitoria-Gasteiz is the second largest city in the Basque Country and also its administrative capital. It's located between the coastal cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian but 30 miles inland, so a long drive away. Travellers thus generally ignore it in favour of the better known tourist traps but that would be a mistake, especially if you turn up at festival time like I did. I have rarely seen…