Fiesta! Your guide to Spain's party year

1. Las Fallas, Valencia, 12-19 March 2005

1. Las Fallas, Valencia, 12-19 March 2005

Valencia bursts to life next weekend with "Las Fallas" - a riot of bonfires, fireworks and parades in honour of the city's patron saint, Joseph. The festival has been celebrated since 1497. More than three million people descend on the city to see 700 or so papier-mâché caricatures, some more than 20 metres (65ft) high, fashioned to resemble local politicians and celebrities. On 15 March, the fallas are set up at the city's crossroads and squares. The next day, thousands of flowers are offered in honour of Our Lady of the Forsaken. The most impressive fireworks display is at midnight on 18 March, called, the Nit del Foc (night of fire), while the fiesta culminates with the crema, when the fallas are set alight at midnight on 19 March. Afterwards, street parties go on well into the small hours.

How to get there
British Airways (0870 850 9 850; www.ba.com) offers flights from Gatwick to Valencia from £80 return.

Where to stay
The Hospes Palau del la Mar (00 34 96 316 2884; www.hospes.es), Navarro Reverter 14, Valencia, has doubles with breakfast from €150 (£114).

Further information
Tourism (00 34 963 606 353; www.lasfallas.com).

2. Holy Week, Seville, 20-27 March; Feria de Abril, Seville, 12-17 April

Religious fervour will soon descend on Seville as crowds take to the streets for theSemana Santa (holy week) processions. The first parade takes place on Palm Sunday, with cofradias (brotherhoods) carrying floats with elaborately decorated statues of the Virgin, and sculptures of Jesus decked with red carnations and purple irises. Easter Week has barely subsided before the next celebrations begin - La Prueba Del Alumbrado (the testing of the lights), which marks the start of the Feria de Abril. Streets are transformed into fairgrounds, while Andalucians in traditional dress dance sevillanas. Horses and carriages parade in the Paseo de Caballo. Copious amounts of manzanilla (sherry) are drunk.

How to get there
Cresta (0870 238 7711; www.crestaholidays.co.uk) offers two-night b&b breaks staying at the Hotel Abril from £311 per person, based on two sharing. This includes return flights from Gatwick with BA.

Further information
00 34 954 221404; www.sevilla.org

3. Salamanca 2005 (Europe Square), 2 April-30 October

Concerts, plays, dance performances and exhibitions are some of the events taking place this year in the university city of Salamanca in Castilla-Leon (west of Madrid), to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the gracious Plaza Mayor. The baroque square was declared a national monument in 1935 and is now one of the liveliest places in the city, perhaps best summed up by the festival's slogan, "heartbeat of the city".

How to get there
BA (0870 850 9 850; www.ba.com) flies to Madrid from Heathrow and Gatwick from £69 return. Ryanair (0871 246 0000; www.ryanair.com) flies from Stansted to Valladolid from £35 return.

Where to stay
Hotel Rector, Paseo Rector Esperabe 10, (00 34 923 218482) is a charming 14-room hotel just a few minutes' walk from the Plaza. Doubles start at €120 (£86) without breakfast.

Further information
(00 34 923 213520; www.salamanca2005.org)

4. Running of the Bulls, Pamplona, 6-14 July

The running of the bulls is synonymous with this northern city, drawing crowds of mostly testosterone-fuelled young men aiming to prove themselves in one of the most dangerous escapades going. They gather at 8am each morning on the Santa Domingo starting line and lead a herd of 120-stone bulls through the streets, into a bullring. Celebrations run late into each night, culminating with the candle-lit Pobre de mi closing ceremony, where crowds lament the festival's end. The next morning, die-hards traditionally run in front of the early morning bus to get their final fix.

How to get there
BA (0870 850 9 850; www.ba.com) flies from Heathrow to Bilbao from £89. EasyJet (0871 750 0100, www.easyJet.com) flies from London to Bilbao. Return flights start from £40.

Where to stay
The 25-room Hotel Europa, Espoz y Mina 11, (00 34 948 22 18 00; www.hreuropa.com). Doubles with breakfast start at €274 (£196).

Further information
San Fermin (00 34 948 206540; www.sanfermin.com or Tourism Navarra (www.cfnavarra.es/turismonavarra)

5. Nava Cider Festival, Asturias, 9 July

Traditionally, Asturian cider is poured from a height from the bottle or barrel to the glass. Nava, the cider capital of Spain's northern province of Asturias, celebrates the region's tipple on the second Saturday in July. The festival includes free tastings, competitions for the best brews and top pourers, and plenty of cider-fuelled parties. The town's cider museum offers a fascinating insight into the drink's production, while serious cider-lovers can tour the region's numerous rustic sidrerias or cider factories.

How to get there
Easyjet (0871 750 0100; www.easyjet.com) begins flights from Stansted to Oviedo (20km from Nava) on 24 March. Prices in July start at £41 return.

Where to stay
Parador de Cangas de Onis, Villanueva, Cangas de Onis (00 34 985 84 94 02; www.parador.es), 30km east of Nava, on the banks of the River Sella. This luxury hotel is a former monastery, and was declared a national monument in 1907. Doubles start at €144 (£103) in summer.

Further information
Asturias Tourism (00 34 985 717477; www.infoasturias.com)

6. Racing, Sanlucar de Barrameda, 1 & 3 and 16 & 18 August 2005

Betting is a serious business throughout August in the southern Andalucian town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. For four days, the sun-loungers and beach balls are cleared from the Bajo de Guia and Las Piletas beaches in preparation for a different kind of beach sport - horse racing. When the sun begins to set at around 6.30pm and the tide goes out the races begin in earnest, lasting until around 9.30pm. More than 200 horses and riders from all over Europe compete for several million euros of prize money. Spectators can enjoy the local manzanilla and Sanlucar prawns from numerous stalls dotting the makeshift "paddocks".

How to get there
Ryanair (0871 246 0000; www.ryanair.com) flies to Jerez from Stansted for around £70 return.

Where to stay
Posada de Palacio, calle Caballeros 11, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz (00 34 956 364 840; www.posadadepalacio.net) has double rooms from €80 (£57).

Further information
Sanlucar de Barrameda (00 34 956 366 110; www.aytosanlucar.org)

7. La Tomatina, Buñol, 31 August 2005

Paint the town red (almost literally) at Buñol's La Tomatina - one of Spain's best-loved festivals. More than 30,000 revellers descend on the main square - the Plaza Pueblo de Buñol - to pelt each other with 120,000 tons of tomatoes. It all began in 1945, when a vegetable stand provided the perfect ammunition for an impromptu tomato fight among participants of a passing carnival. A rematch was arranged for the following year. Having made several attempts to ban the event, the authorities now accept it, but have imposed certain rules. Tomatoes can only be thrown at designated times and must be crushed first to avoid unnecessary injuries.

How to get there
EasyJet (0871 750 0100, www.easyJet.com) offers return flights from Gatwick to Valencia from around £70.

Where to stay
Hotel Adhoc Monumental (00 34 96 391 9140; www.adhochoteles.com) has doubles from €95 (£68) with breakfast.

Further information
00 34 963 986 000; www.landofvalencia.com

8. Jerez Autumn Festival, 4-24 September

Head to Jerez, the home of sherry, for a festival celebrating its wine harvest. The queen of the vintage leads the opening parade, followed by children scrambling to catch sweets thrown by her courtiers. Events include horse jumping (Jerez is the horse-capital of Andalucia), flamenco dancing, bullfights, motorcycle races and the blessing of the vines. Spend your afternoons in a sherry haze at one of the many bodegas, most of which offer tours in English. The bodegas also produce brandy using the same ageing process.

How to get there
Ryanair (0871 246 0000; www.ryanair.com) flies from Stansted to Jerez from £43 return.

Where to stay
The Prestige Palmera Plaza, 1 Pizarro, (00 34 956 031500; www.palmeraplaza.com) has doubles from €149 (£106). The hotel is in the grounds of a 19th-century bodega close to the centre of town.

Further information
Jerez Tourism (00 34 956 324747; www.turismojerez.com).

9. San Sebastian Film Festival. 15-24 September 2005

The red carpet is rolled out every September for the stars attending the San Sebastian International Film Festival. It may not be as well-known as Cannes or Venice, but San Sebastian still attracts the A-list - last year's Donostia awards for lifetime achievement were collected in person by Annette Bening, Jeff Bridges and Woody Allen. Now in it's 53rd year, it is considered to be one of the most avant garde of the European festivals. This year, San Sebastian's nine-day programme, screened at the spectacular Kursaal centre, includes seven categories of films - from the official section to retrospectives. Filmmakers are awarded gold conchas (shells). Afterwards, explore the fabulous swathe of La Concha, the city's famous beach, and the numerous pintxos bars of the Parte Vieja, or old town.

How to get there
Bilbao flight details as in Number 4.

Where to stay
The stars' hotel of choice is the classic grand dame, Maria Cristina, calle Oquendo 1 (00 34 943 43 76 00; www.starwood.com). Doubles start from €250 (£178) with breakfast.

Further information
00 34 943 481 212; www.sansebastianfestival.com)

10. Fiestas de la Vendimia Riojana, 20-26 September

La Rioja is one of Spain's most famous wine-producing regions. Wine-lovers should head to Logroño, the province's capital, which celebrates the grape harvest with a week of parades, food tastings, bullfighting, concerts, theatre, street music and fireworks. On 21 September, in the Paseo del Espolon, two men in traditional dress tread the grapes, barefoot and linking arms, until the first juice of the harvest is collected in a jug. This is offered to the Virgin of Valvanera, the patron saint of La Rioja.

How to get there
Bilbao flight details as in Number 4.

Where to stay
Hospederia Señorio de Casalarreina, Plaza Sto Domingo de Guzman 6, Casalarreina (00 34 941 324 730; www.hotelesencanto.org), is 40km west of Logroño and occupying former school buildings attached to the Señora de la Piedad monastery. Doubles start at €144 (£103) including breakfast.

Further information
La Rioja (00 34 941 291260; www.larioja.org/turismo).

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