Arraia-Maeztu

Arraia-Maeztu Arraya-Maestu
Municipality
Coordinates: ES 42°44′26″N 2°26′46″W / 42.74056°N 2.44611°W
Country	ESP
Autonomous community	Basque Country
Province	Álava
Region	Cuadrilla de Campezo-Montaña Alavesa
Government
• Mayor	Ángel Marcos Pérez de Arrilucea Pérez de Alday (EAJ-PNV)
Area
• Total	12,311 km^2 (4,753 sq mi)
Elevation	659 m (2,162 ft)
Postal code	01120

Arraia-Maeztu (Spanish: Arraya-Maestu) is a town and municipality located in the province of Álava, in the Basque Country, northern Spain.

This municipality was formed in 1958 by the union of the municipalities of Apellániz, Arraya and Laminoria. It was originally called Maestu, but in 1987 adopted its current name.

The municipality is composed of 16 villages, divided into 10 councils:

• Apellániz (officially Apellániz/Apinaiz)
• Atauri
• Azáceta (officially Azazeta)
• Corres (officially Korres)
• Maestu (officially Maeztu/Maestu), which is the capital of the municipality.
• Onraita (officially Onraita/Erroeta)
• El Real Valle de Laminoria (also with official versions in Euskera Laminoriako Erret Harana), formed by six small towns: Alecha (officially Aletxa), Arenaza (officially Arenaza/Areatza), Cicujano (officially Cicujano/Zekuiano), Ibisate, Leorza (officially Leorza/Elortza) and Musitu.
• Róitegui (officially Róitegui/Erroitegi)
• Sabando
• Virgala Mayor (officially Vírgala Mayor/Birgara Goien), which also includes the village of Virgala Menor (officially Vírgala Menor/Birgara Barren).

Famous persons

• Pedro Ruiz de Gaona (15th century): Lord of the Sabando tower. Guard and ambassador of the Castilian king Juan II.
• Joan Bautista de Gámiz (1696-1773): Jesuit priest and poet. He wrote primarily in Castilian, but some of his poems are preserved in Basque and are of great importance to the history of Basque literature.

External links

• Arraya-Maestu in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Spanish)
• Official page of the Arraya-Maestu City Council