Since the itinerary is circular we could start anywhere, although we would rather do it in Zabalgana, a forest park, to the west of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Surrounded by agrarian parcels, an industrial estate and the growing neighbourhood of Zabalgana, the park serves as an example of the recovery of a natural setting threatened by impoverishment. Meadows, pools and a gall-oak forest-island mix together in this pleasant place.
A green avenue that skirts the city centre on the north side links Zabalgana Park, to the west, with Salburua Park, to the east, following the course of the river Zadorra up to the park of Gamarra, a place usually dedicated to recreation.
Salburua is the place with highest ecological value of Vitoria-Gasteiz and one of the most important continental wetlands of the Basque Autonomous Region. The retrieval of its two pond or pools, the ones in Betoño and Zurbano, has been allowed to keep its fauna, in which the European mink and different water birds stand out, these can be seen from the observatory of Zurbano. There are marked tours that allow an in-depth knowledge of Salburua Park.
The ‘green ring’ continues its way towards the Southwest through an avenue full of trees, until it reaches the setting of Olarizu, a place traditionally used by the citizens of Vitoria for walks and to attend regular fairs. Surrounded by meadows, the spot of Olarizu has been turned into an environmental park organising different activities on nature.
Towards the east, we will put an end to our tour near the Basilica of San Prudencio in Armentia, specifically in the Forest of Armentia, a place of 165 gall-oak hectares, although it is also suited with maple trees, beech trees, holly trees and hazel trees. The forest is linked, like an ecological road, to the slopes of the Mountains of Vitoria.
