02/09/2010
Vitoria- Gasteiz, 2nd September 2010.- The history of Santa Maria Cathedral is binded to the quarries of Ajarte, Elguea, Olarizu or Arrigorrista. Since four years, the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation reminds this Walk of Stone that the stone masons made from the site to the cathedral. This time, the Foundation has organised a new excursion to Elguea mountain range on September 11th. This excursion has about 28km and is meant to prepared people. The departure will be at 8.00am from Europa Palace and the return at 17.00pm. On September 18th and 25th the destination of the excursion will be Ajarte again.
The exterior of the Cathedral is made of sandstone of Elguea and Ozaeta. In the quarry of Elguea worked 6 of the 20 inhabitants of the town in 1850, and in Ozaeta de extraction of the stone has been maintained till the XXth century.
Oxes from Ajarte to Vitoria
On September 18th and 25th, the Walk of Stone will make excursions to Ajarte, the origin of the most used stones in the construction of the Cathedral. The excursion has about 14 km.
The last excursion, on September 25th, will coincide with the Medieval Market of Vitoria, and the Foundation wants to remind this Walk of Stone in a very special way. A cart with two oxes carrying some stone blocks, will cover the way from Mendiola to Plaza del Matxete in Vitoria- Gasteiz. The cart willl meet in Mendiola the group that comes walking from Ajarte, and all together will arrive to Vitoria- Gasteiz at 2.00pm approximately.
If you are interested in this activity you can ask for information and make reservations in the Cathedral´s Store ( Las Escuelas St., 11) or calling to +0034 945 255135. The price is 3€ for the members of the Founders Circle and 7€ for the rest. There will be 45 available seats for each excursion.