Slow travel through Spain in April, and you’ll beat the summer heat and crowds. take your time to explore this bountiful and authentich country. Wander off the itinerary, and discover destinations and events that pop up along the way.
If you happen to be in Spain in April you simply ‘must’ head to Seville, for the ‘Feria de Abril’ otherwise known as Seville’s grand fair. Take a convenient, fast train from Barcelona and in a couple of hours you’ll be immersed in the culture of this picturesque city.
Seville, is an authentic Spanish city, bursting in history, with an abundance of local food and wine, it’s a place where people are full of passion and life. The ‘Feria de Abril’ literally takes over the city’s streets and parks, locals are donned in traditional flamenco and matador attire and are transported by elegantly dressed horse and cart.
The fair begins at midnight just after the holy easter holidays and goes for six days, ending on midnight on the last day-there’s a theme here. The Sevillanos invest in the tradition of the fair with gusto, from magnificently decorated casetas (private marquee tents) reserved for members and prominent families of the region- to a small array of colourful public tents.
The casetas are a work of art, styled to impress, with striped fabrics and flowers aplenty-the sounds of live flamenco and the flavours of Seville flood the streets. Seville is the capital and largest city of Andalusia, and the annual fair is the ideal place to indulge in the regions, rich culture.
The fair dates back to 1846 and was originally held in the Basque Country in Northern Spain, formally a livestock event, where the community of gypsy wanderers would trade animals. Soon after, the fair changed shape and moved to Seville’s town hall and Casino-inevitably spilling onto the streets and parklands.
Since 1973 the fair has been held on a designated 24-block area ‘Real de la Feria’ with over a thousand casetas, amusement park, street food vendors and pop-up bars, plus a week of traditional bull fighting in the cities famed bull ring-if that takes your fancy.
Although bull fighting known as ‘Corrida de Toros’ is a tradition in Spain, it has been slowly declining since 1970 to protect the welfare of the animals, however Seville has reserved a week of traditional ‘Bull Running’ to preserve its origins.
The fair streets are aptly named after famous bullfighters, and each day the fiesta begins with a parade of colourful carriages, transporting debonair fairgoers from the bullring to the parklands. Hordes of horses line the public streets-we get the sense it’s still about the animals, with a tad more prestige.
Seville is a city that bursts with colour and history, ideally located on the River Guadalquivir in the southwest of Spain. Visit the region in April for the ‘Feria de Abril’ for an authentic and affordable holiday, and a whole lot of Spanish fun- Mucho Fiesta!
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WHERE TO EAT
Mercado de Feria
MILONGUITAS
WHERE TO PLAY
FERIA de ABRIL
https://www.sevilla.org/fiestas-de-la-ciudad/feria-de-sevilla/feria-de-abril-2024
SEVILLE IN A DAY
BULL FIGHTING
WHERE TO STAY
IBIS SEVILLE
https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/ibis-sevilla.en.html?aid=7927129&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2
APARTMENT IN THE CITY
