The Spring fair of Sevilla
Spain is known for it?s sun, sea and fiestas. The Semana Santa is throughout the whole of Spain one of the most important festival weeks. You can visit festivals and other types of parties everywhere. But, did you know that shortly after Samana Santa their is another great festival to visit in the region Andalucia, in the city Seville.
The Feria de Abril, or April springtime fair, took place for the first time in 1846 as a market, lasts a week and the whole festival is a big celebration of Andalucian culture. The dates vary a lot, it usually takes place around 2 weeks after Semana Santa but the planned dates up to 2020 are anywhere in between half April and half May. If you want to visit the festival it is wise to confirm the dates with the Spanish tourism board before. Don?t forget to book your appartement in Sevilla early because an enourmous amount of locals and visitors alike visit the city in this week!
The Feria takes place in ?Reial de la Feria? a set up that is build right outside the center just for this week and that forms a city on its own. De Casetas, as the tents are called, have bright colored stripes on them and paper decoration lights attached to them which makes this little city very festive. The most popular aspect of the festival week takes place inside these tents, the flamenco dancing. Women wear mangificent colored dresses that are often made especially for this week and can cost thousands of euros. Some of the tents are open for everyone, other only on invitation, but in all thents the loud flamenco music sounds and there is a lot of alcohol consumed, this takes place the whole week.
During the day there is an equestrian parade, this also takes place every day of the week. During this parade the Sevillian women ride around on horses or in beautifully decorated carriages in full flamenco outfit while accompanied by men in Andalusian wear; a short jacket and a big hat, called a bolero. The horses in this parade are magnificent as well, all (andalucian) horses of good blood.
The last event that draws a lot of people is the bullfighting. Although more and more people turn their back towards this tradition it is still an important part of Spanish culture and the best bullfighters from the country go inside the ring in the afternoons.
Do you want to enjoy a typical Spanish festival and feel the Andalucian culture? Then book appartementen Sevilla and get seduced by this colorful festival.
