Europe & Beyond

Guide to Barcelona’s best fiestas 2010

Barcelona is a colourful, warm, energetic city that has been transformed in recent years into one of Europe’s favourite short break destinations, with festivals taking place throughout the year. Watch this splendid slideshow of Barcelona during feistas.

As the capital of Catalonia, the city has a proud and distinctive culture, language and cuisine, as well as a huge variety of architectural styles – from historic buildings to strikingly modern constructions, and brightly painted Gaudi designs to darkly Gothic styles. If you are planning to stay longer and see more of Spain, car hire is readily available from offices in Barcelona and airports. For more ideas about where to visit in Spain see out other articles tagged Spain here we focus on the city’s attractions and festivals.

Barcelona Sights

Amongst the city’s year-round sights are Las Ramblas, the city’s main tourist thoroughfare; the medieval maze making up the Gothic Quarter; the redeveloped Waterfront; the work of architect Antoni Gaudí (including the immense and unfinished Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Milà); the Picasso Museum; and, for football fans, the FC Barcelona Museum.

Barcelona Festivals

Barcelona also hosts a number of annual fiestas, many of which are unique to Catalonia and offer an insight into its distinctive culture. Here are some highlights from throughout the year:

La Diada de Sant Jordi

23 April 2010

This is a distinctively Catalan day celebrating the city’s patron saint, Sant Jordi (Saint George).

It’s also known as el dia de la rosa (The Day of the Rose) or el dia del llibre (The Day of the Book) since men traditionally give women a rose, and women usually give men a book in tribute to Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright Cervantes, who died on this day in 1616. It’s a bit like Valentine’s Day, and from a traveller’s perspective it’s an interesting time to be around the Ramblas area, where a huge flower market springs up alongside book stalls where locals buy gifts for their loved ones. Catalonia’s national dance, the sardana, is performed throughout the day in the Plaça Sant Jaume, and a variety of street performers and musicians fill the plazas with their live entertainment.

Festival de Sonar

17-19 June 2010

Sonar is a three-day urban festival showcasing advanced music and multimedia art, including emerging artists and DJs representing the most up to date music and new media trends.

The festival takes place on 17-19 June 2010 and is split into ‘Sonar by Day’ activities (in the CCCB and MACBA venues), including technology fairs, and ‘Sonar by Night’ (Fira Gran Via M2 L’Hospitalet), including many music events. You can find out more or buy tickets at http://2010.sonar.es/ (there is an English language choice at the bottom).

Festival de Sant Joan

23 June 2010

This midsummer Solstice festival is a lot of fun, taking place on 23 June mainly around the beach. There are fireworks, bonfires and lots of partying – and you may also find restaurants serving special festival dishes such as Coca de Sant Joan.

Grec Festival de Barcelona

June-August 2010

This three month long music, dance, theatre and circus festival is one of Barcelona’s top events. Held every year between June and August at venues all over the city, the fiesta features a whole host of lively performances.

For further schedule details and tickets visit the official website

Festa Major de Gracia

Around 15 August (TBC)

This week-long annual Catalonian celebration in the second half of August sees Barcelona’s neighbourhoods compete with one another to present the most beautifully-decorated streets. Festooned with lights and elaborate coloured decorations, it’s a great time to explore the city – and there’s also live music, fireworks, all-night parties and lots of drinking.

http://www.festamajordegracia.cat/

Festes de la Merce

22 – 26 September 2010 (TBC)

Barcelona’s biggest annual festival brings together several events including human tower competitions (featuring groups of castellers), firework displays, live music, and processions featuring giant wooden figures. All the festivities are accompanied by plenty of Cava-drinking, celebrating the national drink of Catalonia.

Experience Semana Santa in Malaga

Spain is world-famous for its lively fiestas, and Easter Week or Semana Santa celebrations are amongst the biggest, particularly in Malaga and other towns and cities in the southern region of Andalucia.

Previously in the  we looked at ideas for family holidays on the  Costa del Sol Car Hire Spain series of 2009. Thanks to its position on the hectic Spanish south coast, a package tour mecca, Malaga is often unfairly overlooked by cultural travellers – yet it packs in some very interesting sights.

Easter Week Malaga

This year’s Easter week runs from 26 March to 4 April 2010, and with cheap flights available from the UK to Malaga, and the Spring sun already shining, it’s a great excuse for a trip abroad.

Although Semana Santa is a religious festival, the splendour of the fiesta’s processional floats can be appreciated by anyone.

Whereas in many Andalucian towns and cities the festival can take on a quiet, subdued tone, in Malaga the festivities are far more upbeat and happy, with spontaneous bursts of Flamenco songs and cheering when the best floats pass by. Read more about Malaga Flamenco.

From Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday there are daily processions through the city, featuring elaborately-decorated pasos (religious floats) that sway along the streets, accompanied by bands playing distinctive religious music.

The pasos, some of them weighing a considerable 5,000 kilos, are painstakingly carried along the streets by bearers. Some of the older floats were carved in the 16th and 17th centuries, and all of them are beautifully decorated and carry life-sized figures depicting scenes from the bible.

Thousands of robed penitents light the way with their candles, and the air is filled with the aroma of incense and flowers.

Semana Santa is very important to the Andalucians, but also draws tourists from all over the world. Whether or not you’re religious, it’s hard not to find yourself swept up by the spectacle of these atmospheric candlelit processions, and the evocative sounds, scents and ceremony involved.

Other Malaga attractions

The city’s Moorish history can be seen in the old Alcazaba fortress, which dates back to 1065 and houses an Archaeological Museum. The pleasant seafront promenade, Paseo del Parque, leads to the harbour and ends at Calle Larios, the city’s main commercial thoroughfare. You can admire Baroque architecture at the city’s cathedral, known as La Manquita (‘One Armed Woman’) because of its missing East bell tower. And for art-lovers there’s the famous Picasso Museum, and the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo.

Once you’ve had your fill of culture and history, Malaga also has plenty of good clothes and souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants with outdoor seating where you can recharge your batteries ready for some more Semana Santa celebrations.

Malaga Airport Flights to Malaga

Málaga Airport is the third largest international airport in Spain, with excellent links to UK regional airports. A number of low-cost airlines offer flights to Malaga from many regional airports, and you can hire a car from the airport if you’re planning to explore beyond the city.

Car Hire Malaga

If you hire a car in Malaga, you can explore the smaller traditional towns and villages found inland from the busy coast, to get a taste of more local Semana Santa festivities.

If you’re planning a trip to Andalucia during this busy festival period, make sure you book accommodation, car hire and any other crucial travel services well in advance because demand is high.