Faithful to traditions, don't you feel like leaving home for Easter? Do you prefer chocolate eggs, doves and traditional Easter Monday outings by far to the Andalusian Semana Santa? No problem!
THEAndalusia, land of loving hearts and secret gardens, is already preparing new magic and enchantments and you just have to discover ancient customs, strong flavors and poignant music.
May in Andalusia reserve surprises: Seville and Cordoba, the two Andalusian ladies, filed red carnations and Easter incense, are ready to offer their visitors dancing parties, hidden gardens, gushing fountains. And while the women take the elegant dress out of the wardrobe and pin roses to their long hair, as in an old faded tale of a distant time, the Arab beauties, the colored azulejos, the rio and the scent of orange blossoms they are the setting for a daily show that fills the eyes and heart with wonder. The warm spring that already seems like summer reserves incredible surprises here in Andalusia, like pearls in a single and wonderful necklace.
A little guide, a secret diary that I leave to you future guests of this land with the hope that you can enjoy the best of May in Andalusia.
Seville
This year, due to such a low Easter, the traditional Feria de Abril in Seville, which inaugurates the Andalusian holiday season, incredibly falls in May. From 5 to 11 May 2014 the neighborhood of The medicines, on the other side of the Rio Guadalquivir, lights up for the party: the white and red striped houses are populated, the girls show off the latest in flamenco fashion, the men do not fail to decorate their jackets with red carnations and horses groomed, combed and dressed in their best dress, they pull the carriages. It's the fair: flamenco and pure energy are mixed, giving to Sevillians and not, moments of great magic. For a whole week, starting from the lunes of the "alumbrao" when all the lights of the weekday enclosure turn on, until Sunday when midnight is marked by a wonderful fireworks display that illuminates the Giralda, you can enjoy one of the most famous festivals of Spain.
Once you cross the main door, the famous portada which this year recalls the colors and shapes of the marvelous plaza de España, get lost in the streets of the small miniature city and don't worry if you will be amazed by the elegance and to the colors of the many girls with the typical Sevillian costume. Do not miss to taste in one of the public houses (some in Seville are private and you can enter only by direct invitation) the tapas of ham, cheese and pork washed down with a cool beer or accompanied by rebujito, a typical drink of the fair. wild dancing until 3 in the morning.
Here, following the link, a small handbook written for you, so as to avoid making a fool during the April Fair of Seville.
Cordoba
When they say May in Andalusia you immediately think about Cordoba. The city of the Mezquita gives us a series of events that illuminate streets, palaces and flower gardens from the end of April to the end of May. The Mayo Cordobés is one of the major Andalusian festivals, a greeting to spring where the sacred of the cross elegantly blends with long profane dances that continue until dawn.
We start with the wine, the best of the cellars of Cordoba: from The 23 27 April 2014 the traditional one takes place in the square in front of the Palacio de la Merced cata of wine. A moment to taste and savor the wines from the south of the province of Cordoba and which bear the denomination Montilla-Moriles. There will be typical dishes and music, the undisputed protagonist of the Andalusian festivals.
But the surprises do not end there, in fact since 30 April at 4 May 2014 the baton passes to the party de Las Cruces, typically Andalusian. The first of May is animated by an intense battle of flowers that upsets the streets of the city and starts the spring festivals. In the gardens, in the squares large crosses decorated with flowers, stones and mantones de manila (the typical Andalusian cape) rise, which become a meeting place for dances and night shows of flamenco and sevillana.
You cannot in any way leave the city if you have not visited at least two of its marvelous gardens, a World Heritage Site. And when I say gardens, you understand, I don't mean public gardens with games and flower beds. When in Cordoba it is said gardens, means artistic and architectural wonders hidden inside palaces and private homes. Secret chests that the owners guard and jealously care for throughout the year, and in May they open their proud gates to wonder and amazement. From To 5 18 May 2014 takes place Fiesta de los patios, and while you, curious tourists, fill your eyes with such beauty, know that here in Cordoba every garden, every flower, every fountain and gushing waterfall of these immense floral compositions, compete in a great competition that has been going on since 1918. The gardens you will find the most beautiful and oldest in the neighborhood of Judería, Alcázar viejo and in the neighborhood of Santa Marina. Don't miss the wonderful gardens of the Palacio de Viana either, which are definitely worth a visit.
Finally she, the Feria of Cordoba, from To 24 31 May 2014. Festive, noisy and popular, it has different characteristics from that of Seville. The portada is large and wonderful, the houses are all public and for those who are tired of flamenco and sevillana, they can also dance to the notes of ancient and modern catchphrases played strictly live.
