VITORIA, 0-ta're-ii, or VITTORIA. The capital of the Province of lava. Spain. 30 miles smith of Bilbao, on the left bank of the Zadorra River (Map: Spain, D 1). The upper, or old town, with some ancient ruins still visible, is narrow, gloomy, and dirty, while the new town, on a lower level. is more open and elegant, with finer buildings and charming pascos and plazas. The Cathedral of Santa Maria de Vitoria is a twelfth-century church and fortress. and was re stored in the fourteenth century. Its companion fortress church. San Vicente, was reconstructed in the fifteenth century. Among the secular structures the Municipal Building is interesting architecturally and contains many memorials of Isabella the Catholic; the Palace of the Provin cial Deputation• a nineteenth-century structure, is filled with mementoes of the life of the prov ince. The poorhouse occupies the former Colegio de San Prudencio. llere was the first modern prison in Spain.
The climate of Vitoria is cold and humid. The occupations of the inhabitants are dependent upon the industries of the city, which comprise the manufacture of chairs, mirrors. picture frames, iron bedsteads, woolens, leather, oilcloth, chocolate, pastas, crockery-ware, malt liquors, and chemicals. Population, in 1900. 32.617.
Vitoria appears in history during the tenth century. when it Was an important fortress with extensive local privileges. During the Middle Ages there were many fierce conflicts within its walls, between the aristocratic and democratic factions. its part in the War of the Communes told heavily against it in loss of population and privileges. It was the scene of the decisive vic tory. June 21, 1813. by whieh Wellington drove the French out of Spain. Here. in 1833, origi nated the Carlist struggle.