We have blog content about Spain that would last a year. And for good reason; it's one of the most visited countries in the world: 80 million tourists from all corners of the globe decide to enjoy their holidays each year under the Spanish sun. In fact, we also love it so much that on Spotahome you can find more than 40,000 accommodation options across the country. Besides its gastronomy, its cultural heritage and its privileged geography, today we want to talk to you about another of its principal attractions: its most important and popular festivals. Who doesn't like a bit of fun from time to time?
1. Festival of San Fermín (Sanfermines, Navarra)
Celebrated in honour of San Fermín, they are one of the first popular festivals that spring to mind when one thinks of Spain. Although it was American writer Ernest Hemingway's unbridled passion for the festivities which made it known around the world, its origins can be traced back centuries. Each 6th of July, the legendary bang (the gunshot which signals the start of festivities) starts in the plaza of the town hall Pamplona los Sanfermines, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Although the running of bulls is no doubt the main attraction, fireworks, music and people generally having a good time is what awaits anyone who joins in with the most popular festivals in Navarre.
2. The Fallas of Valencia
This festival has been awarded by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The Fallas of Valencia which are celebrated between every second and third week in March (this year it was in September, an exceptional case due to the pandemic) are a celebration of light, joy and art: of life, all in all. In anticipation of spring, the burning of constructed monuments is one of the main tourist attractions the city of Valencia has to offer. Hundreds of figures made principally from wood succumb in a spectacular showing of fire and ashes as the fallero artisans say goodbye to all their hard work undertaken during the course of the year to prepare for the festivities.
3. The Seville Fair (Feria de Abril de Sevilla)
In Seville it seems that spring is not celebrated until the start of the April fair. Year after year, hundreds of small huts all in the same space full of music and thousands of light bulbs and lanterns flood the streets of Seville with a constant explosion of happiness. It's the one opportunity every year for people to take out their best, most elegant finery with local flamenco dresses the most common site. The days of celebration depend upon Holy Week, there are times when La Feria can be postponed until the month of May. Do you enjoy a jolly old dance and folk music? Horses and beautiful gypsy dresses? The capital of Andalusia has all of these things and more so that you don't stop having fun.
4. La Tomatina de Buñol
On this occasion we once again return to the community of Valencia but this time to the municipality of Buñol. Celebrated on the last Wednesday of every August, the day of the Tomatina is the most important of the local festivities. The event, which each time attracts more of an international audience, basically consists of a tomato fight: the village's streets are dyed in red, not one piece of clothing is ever saved. Thousands of people arm themselves with tomatoes and pursue each other down the streets. These tomatoes are especially cultivated for this street party and the first piece of advice is to wear gloves and protective glasses. Sign up one year and you will understand what we're talking about.
5. The Carnivals
We cannot choose between Cádiz and Tenerife. And as we have our heart divided..., we want to talk to you about them both. Without a shadow of a doubt, the carnivals in Andalusia and the Canary Islands are the most important ones in Spain. Both are celebrated between February and March and both manage to attract thousands of tourists and visitors each year. If in the Carnival of Cádiz reigns the chirigota, a group of people singing very humorous songs on the streets and theatres of the city, in the island of Tenerife it's the queens of the Carnival who light up the streets of the Canary Islands with light and brightness. Of course, two very different spectacles which between them compete in beauty with the masquerades of Venice.
