Plaza de la Virgen Blanca
The Plaza de la Virgen Blanca is one of the oldest meeting points in Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Basque Country of Spain. In the middle of it there is the monument to La batalla de Vitoria a battle which happened in the city in 1813 during the Napoleonic wars.
History
In the Middle Ages the square was Vitoria's city center. It was the place where all activities, including bullfights and food markets, happened. At the end of the 18th century next to it la Plaza de España or Plaza Nueva was built by the architect Justo Antonio de Olaguibel from Vitoria. Due to the construction of the new square the old one became a meeting point for the inhabitants of the city. In 2007 the flowers that were in the middle of it were removed, fountains were installed in order to modernize the square.
Virgen Blanca Festivities
At 6:00 pm, Celedon's descent is performed from the top of the Church of San Miguel to a balcony in the Virgen Blancasquare, where Celedón (a rag doll with an umbrella) gradually goes down suspended by a wire. Mean while the citizens below, shower themselves in champagne and sing Celedón's song. Once he reaches the balcony the staff hide the rag doll and a human Celedón appears. Next, he has to cross the square, helped by a group of friends, to reach the Church of San Miguel and greet the crowds below and wish everyone a happy celebration. This performance marks the starting of the celebration in Vitoria-Gasteiz. At 10:00 pm, the Virgen Blanca brotherhood is in charge of organizing a lantern procession.
References
- Plaza de la Virgen Blanca (Spanish)
Coordinates: 42°50′48″N 2°40′24″W / 42.84667°N 2.67333°W