FESTIVALS
Numerous festivals take place throughout the year , many of which are rooted in religion and history . Below is an introduction to some of Spain ’ s most famous festivals . Dates of other festivals can be found on the introductory pages for each of the individual regions .
February Carnaval ( Carnival ): Huge carnival celebrations are held throughout Spain the week leading up to Lent , with colourful parades and street performances . Some of the most famous events are held in Tenerife and Cadiz , where celebrations include fireworks displays , musical performances and beauty pageants .
March Las Fallas ( Festival of fire ): For five days in March Valencia hosts the Fallas festival , where processions are held and fireworks are let off throughout the day and night , culminating in hundreds of giant puppets being burnt on huge bonfires .
March / April Semana Santa ( Holy Week ): Held the week leading up to Easter Sunday , Spain ’ s Semana Santa celebrations truly are a sight to behold . Processions take place in almost every town and city , where robed and hooded figures fill the streets and follow floats bearing life-sized religious statues , accompanied by the beat of drums . Some of the most spectacular Semana Santa celebrations take place in Seville , Málaga , León and Zamora .
July Fiestas de San Fermin ( San Fermin festival ): Held in the Navarran city of Pamplona , the Fiestas de San Fermín is week-long festival dedicated to bull running and bullfighting . The event is world famous due to the daily ‘ Encierro ’, where hundreds of participants dressed in white and red run just under a kilometre through the city ’ s streets , being chased by six bulls as they head towards the bull ring .
August La Tomatina ( Tomato fight ): The small town of Buñol , just outside Valencia , is known as being the setting for a massive food fight , where thousands of people gather in the streets to throw tomatoes at each other for a few hours . Various dates throughout the year – Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos ( Moors and Christians festival ): Events are held at different times throughout the year to commemorate the battles between the Moors and the Christians in the Reconquest period . Celebrations feature battle re-enactments and parades of locals dressed in traditional clothing . The most famous of these festivals take place near Valencia in April , with others taking place in towns and cities throughout southern Spain .
WINE
Wine production is a hugely important industry in Spain , with vines being grown over vast swathes of land across the country , producing a number of renowned varieties . Many hotels throughout the country allow guests to sample the wines produced in the local area , some guided by an expert sommelier . Some of these hotels are situated within a wine estate themselves and offer the opportunity to explore the vineyards and wine cellars , learning about the process from field-to-glass before sampling the wines themselves . Hotels which offer wine tasting include Hotel Viura and Marqués de Riscal in the heart of La Rioja , Mas La Boella and Mas de Torrent in Catalonia . There is also Hacienda Zorita , which offers a unique wine spa where guests can enjoy tastings as they enjoy wine-infused therapies .
GASTRONOMY
Cuisine varies greatly from region-to-region in Spain , each boasting its own unique style , technique , and flavour through the use of fresh , local ingredients . Some of the world ’ s best restaurants can be found in Spain , with a particularly high number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Basque Country and Catalonia . San Sebastian is said to possess a higher concentration than any other city in the world . Many of our hotels offer the chance to discover regional cuisine through restaurant dining and by taking part in gastronomic activities . The Parador hotels are renowned for serving outstanding regional cuisine , often using local produce to create authentic local specialities . Mas La Boella in Catalonia offers cheese and olive oil tasting sessions , while Consolación in eastern Spain invites guests to embark on truffle hunting expeditions .
COOKERY
Cookery lessons are an excellent way to get to know the cuisine of a region , allowing you to learn how your favourite dishes are prepared from scratch . Guests can learn how to cook with regional ingredients at the cookery school of Hotel V ... in Andalucía , learn from a highly skilled chef at Valdepalacios in Castilla-La Mancha , take part in themed cookery lessons at Consolación in eastern Spain , or discover the local cuisine at La Residencia in Mallorca .
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