What's the best fiesta in Spain?

[Ben]

Marina and I had hoped to get down to Gandia this weekend to see the Las Fallas fiestas there, but unfortunately we were put off by rain...

Las Fallas in Valencia is by far my favourite Spanish fiesta - crazy firework displays, all night outdoor discos in the beautiful plazas in the old town, and of course the burning of the vast papier mache statues on the night of March 19th. (See attached pics below).

We hope to do a 'fiestas' podcast soon, and would love to hear about your favourites, let us know below!

[Mardee1000]

Well, I'm not sure if it counts as a fiesta, but I'd love to hear about Semana Santa, if you've experienced it. My daughter is living in Spain now (in Valladolid), and I'm visiting her next month. We will be traveling down to Andalucia during Holy Week. It will be my first trip to Spain and I'm very excited about seeing it - Katie has loved her experiences there and has made it sounds like such an incredible country.

[Ben]

Well you don't know how lucky you are! Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Andalucia is one of the most amazing experiences I have had in Spain - I went in my first year here, a long time ago (7 years), but it still stands out as one of my best memories of my time here. The weather is just warming up nicely (we even swam that year at Caños de Mecca near Cadiz), and the processions are one of the most interesting celebration parades anywhere in the world (see pic attached below, from Seville).

We visited a lot of places that time (you can read a bit about the trip in my book in fact!). Seville was incredibly packed (keep away if you don't like crowds), but it is where you see Semana Santa at it's most impressive, and formal - everyone is fairly serious and looks like they are dressed for a wedding... I think I prefered the smaller places we visited that week, in particular the tiny hill top white town of Arcos de la Frontera (south of Seville), where the barefoot, back whipping processions are just as impressive as Seville, but in a more intimate atmosphere. Cadiz was great as well, as was Malaga. And don't forget the Costa de la Luz coast if you want to see wild beaches - Bolonia is my favourite, Tarifa is fascinating too.

Basically, wherever you go in Andalucia in Holy Week you will have a great time. Marina and I just decided this afternoon that we hope to get down there for a few days this Easter. Do check in when you get back and tell us about it in the 'Your Notes from Spain' part of the Forum. Let us know if you have any more questions!

[Mardee1000]

Thanks very much! I would love to post a trip report when I get back - I always bring a blank journal along and fill it up when I'm traveling. The towns you mentioned sound interesting - we're hoping to get off the beaten path while we're down there and I am always happy for recommendations. I will definitely be checking out your book - and I will most definitely be popping in with more questions. You guys are a valuable resource! :)

Wow, I just noticed the photo - interesting...and familiar. I had always heard that the hooded white robes of the KKK were European in origin.

[caleb]

The best for me is definitely Aste Nagusia in Bilbao. What a week! You guys should try and make it up there (hey you guys know that I live vicariously in Spain now through you right?) . Sometime I'll try and post some of my photos from those crazy days...

[Ben]

Please post some pics, either here or in the NFS flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/notesfromspain/), we'd love to see them!
Do you know what week the Bilbao fiesta is?

[caleb]

Do you know what week the Bilbao fiesta is?


i dug around online and found that they're going to be held "del 19 al 27 agosto", but i would confirm that...

[Ben]

Excellent, thanks caleb, it's in the diary!

[Steve W]

I've just returned from 2 weeks in Valencia and Barcelona, and Las Fallas was pretty good. I was with a bunch of friends who all had to work each day, so there wasn't too much late partying unfortunately, but the town looked great and I took some good photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stvcr/sets/72057594091097152/

I also went to Bilboa last summer for one night, and I'm guessing it was the same festival as mentioned above. Lots of drinking and live music stages everywhere. And the best firework display I've ever seen. Very artistic. I managed to miss all the displays during Fallas. But the constant crack of petarditos more than made up for it.

[Ben]

Great pictures, I am really jealous! I wish we'd made it this year. Please do add some to the Notes from Spain flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/notesfromspain/) if you get the chance. The burning boy was my favourite (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stvcr/118230919/in/set-72057594091097152/), though the colours of the falla with the 'Sara' bag (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stvcr/118211391/in/set-72057594091097152/) are fantastic!

Finally, I love the firemen with 'bombers' (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stvcr/118232851/in/set-72057594091097152/) written on the back of their jackets!

[ValenciaSon]

Great pictures of las fallas! Thanks for sharing?

[Alison]

This year I went to the Fallas in Denia (about an hour south of Valencia) and because its not as busy you can get closer to everything - including the firecrackers and fireworks in the evening - never experienced anything so loud before - I thought they were better than Valencia!

[ValenciaSon]

Has anyone been to the tomato festival?