FIESTA TIME

JUNE marks the start of fiesta season - the annual highlight of life in rural Spain.

It kicks off with Corpus Christi in Granada, where decorated horses parade around the fairground, mounted by riders dressed in flamenco finery.

Dapper Andalus horses become a frequent sight at summer romerias, which celebrate religious events.

At this time of year, even the smallest villages spring to life. With balmier and longer evenings, Spanish families sit at tables placed directly outside their homes. Here, they can congregate for a cold beer (or three) or card game.

Suddenly, you can’t find a park- ing place in your town because visitors from ‘Barca’ or Madrid have arrived to see their rural families. At night, the bars are buzzing, and there’s a feeling of excitement in the air.

A week before your town’s pa- tron saint day, or feria, the municipal street decorations appear, the columpios (rides) and shooting galleries arrive (where you pop at cheap toys with an air rifle), and market vendors set up their stalls. Everything from hot potatoes to artisan handbags are on sale. Not forgetting the delicious mojitos! A loud cohete (banger) marks the start of the fiesta – and off we go!

Trevelez and the fiesta of San Antonio

The Olive Press visited the fiesta of Trevelez – the Alpujarra’s highest village at 1,476m. Taking place from June 14-17, the fiesta celebrates patron saint San Antonio de Padua. The most popular attraction is a theatre of Moros y Cristianos held in Barrio Medio, on Saturday afternoon.