Winter
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Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia p>Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia are spectacular global cities with no shortage of attractions for the visitors. There is no better time to visit than when they host a big annual event and the natives are particularly aware of their role as welcoming hosts. For the more adventurous, there is a festival culture that thrives throughout the country. Every Spanish city, no matter its size, stops and celebrates its local Remember to book your accommodations as soon as possible if your plans include traveling to a location where a major festival or other cultural event is taking place.
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"I always get the feeling in Spain that something unexpected is going to happen at any moment. You never quite know what is coming." -- Ian Gibson, author and broadcaster
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It is traditional to identify four different festival seasons associated with the course spring, summer, winter and fall. Spring and summer festivals arise from their relationship with agriculture and the earth's fecundity. The first Spring festival is Carnaval. It begins its long season with Winter Solstice, when the days first begin to become longer and light and life are restored anew. Those held in autumn are less in number and less exultant, while those celebrated in winter tend to be dramatic and ceremonial. Spain also supports more historic festivals than anywhere else -- most often the Moors vs. Christians, but other militaristic variants as well, such as the Romans vs. Cathegenians. To this we add the growing annual festivals designed to attract visitors, which are primarily music and film festivals.
