We all know that Spain is known for its delicious food and rich culture, but it's also a country famous for its grand festivals. Spain is one place that never has a shortage of occasions to commemorate.
With so many to chose from, it can be difficult to pick a few to check out. Here's a look at three of the best celebrations that Spain has to offer:
♦ Fiesta de Verano (Málaga) – This celebration typically kicks off with an amazing fireworks display on the second Friday in August. During the event, which is usually around 10 days long, visitors and residents of the town dress up in traditional Spanish costumes, dance in the street, eat regional fish and sip sweet, red wine.
♦ Festival de San Fermin (Pamplona) – If you're an adrenaline junkie, you should consider traveling to Pamplona in July. This weeklong festival celebrates the patron saint of the region, San Fermin. Runners deck themselves out in white and red garments, and line up in the center of town only to be chased by six angry bulls for just over half a mile. The goal is to run fast enough to make it into the bullring at the end of the course – though few make it that far.
♦ La Tomatina (Valencia) – Every August, approximately 30,000 people come to Valencia for one week to throw almost 250,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other. According to a Spanish legend, the festival began in 1945 after a brawl broke out between two raucous carnival goers. The only thing that was available to throw was the soft, red fruit.
Because these festivals are so famous and enjoyable, they draw enormous masses of crowds to Spain. If you don't want to deal with the stress of using the crowded subway or hailing a cab, book door-to-door service using Hermes Worldwide, an executive transportation company that will take you from the airport to your hotel in major Spanish cities or other destinations around the world.