Spain Is Special... Especially In Summer

Spain in summer is something special. Of course, there is its wonderful climate inviting you to relax and swim in the sea. But in summer Spain has even more to offer than it already has during the rest of the year.

Fiestas, music festivals, theme parks and sports are the pillars of the Spanish summer. And thanks to the magnificent Mediterranean climate, they can all be enjoyed outdoors!

From the end of May until the middle of August most Spanish villages celebrate their patron saints with dancing, concerts, bullfights and fireworks. Pamplona´s Sanfermines are internationally renowned. They start on July 6th at noon when fireworks are launched from the city’s town hall balcony and are finished off on July 14th at midnight with the farewell song “Pobre de mí”. The Sanfermines abound with fiestas, spectacles, food and wine, and are probably best known for the “Encierro”, an 800 meter run during which the runners are chased by bulls, that culminates in the arena. August 15th is “Día de la Asunción”, Spain’s national holiday. More fiestas are celebrated on this day than on any other day of the year. One of the most famous ones is “El Misteri” of Elche (Alicante), Europe’s oldest religious play. It celebrates in words and haunting music the death and assumption of the Virgin. This mystery play has been declared a Heritage of Humanity. Buñol´s “Tomatina” is probably one of Spain’s most picturesque fiestas: the participants throw tomatoes at each other. Over the last few years it has become internationally notorious and the number of participants has grown accordingly. During the last edition, more than 40.000 people took part in the battle throwing 120 tons of tomatoes at each other. The “Tomatina” takes place in Buñol (Valencia) on the last Wednesday of August.

There are lots of music festivals during the summer months. Some of them offer a wide variety of music genres, such as the rather eclectic and innovative International Festival of Benicasim, while others focus on specific genres, such as the Jazz Festival of San Sebastián, the Guitar Festival of Córdoba (first fortnight of July) and the Euroyeyé of Gijón (a “mod” festival celebrated in early August). Summer nights and music are a perfect combination and this is just a small sampling of what Spain has to offer.

Theme parks are a worthwhile option throughout the year but especially so during the summer months when the number of attractions increases and there are longer opening hours and special evening shows. Spain’s most important theme parks are PortAventura in Salou (Catalonia), Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Isla Mágica in Seville and Parque Warner in Madrid. There are of course a lot more theme parks in other Spanish cities. It goes without saying that water parks and the Mediterranean climate are perfect for each other. Auqualandia in Benidorm is well-known, but there are so many more, such as the seven Aquapolis water parks in the provinces of Madrid, Tarragona, Alicante, Huelva, Valencia and Sevilla.

The summer is a good season to practice sports, not only because of the climate but also because of the free time available. On the Mediterranean coast there are lots of wonderful facilities for learning how to sail, surf or windsurf. Every beach seems to be equipped for a game of beach volley. On the North coast where the temperatures are more moderate, golf or adventure sports are always an attractive option. As we mentioned in the beginning of this article, the Spanish summer offers an infinite number of leisure opportunities and here we have only touched on the most representative ones. In any way, it is good to bear in mind that the heat of the Spanish summer plays an important role in all this and that you should choose an activity with regards to the time of day. The best advice we can give you is to stay out of the sun as much as possible between noon and 4 pm and to use a strong sun block. As far as food is concerned go for food that is rich in water. Spanish gastronomy offers typical summer dishes such as “gazpacho andaluz” (a cold soup) and delicious Mediterranean salads that help to combat the heat.

Choosing Spain for your summer destination is a sure bet. Wherever you go from North to South, or from East to West, you will always find a place to do something. Or a place to do nothing at all.

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