 | Coming up in Andalusia Bull fighting season (April 12th - October 12th)
From the month of April through October Seville, Jerez, and the rest of Spain lives at the rhythm of the bullfighting ferias, with a "corrida" (fight) every day. Seville opens the season and holds traditional "novilladas" in the months of May and June. The village of Ronda, a few km away from hotel Cortijo Soto Real has one of the oldest bullfighting rings of Spain with quite an interesting bullfighting museum.
Bullfighting is known since the beginning of time, but got really popular in Spain about a little more than a thousand years ago. The first "corrida" is thought to have been held in Spain at the crowning of King Alfons VIII. The "corridas" were always held on horseback. It's only since about 285 years ago that the first "matadors" defied the bulls on foot.
Horse carriage show (April 26th)
Although predominant, bullfighting is not the only important event during the season of the "ferias'. One of the most important contests of horse carriages take place during the "Feria of Seville". This contest is on the last Sunday of the feria. Another horse carriage contest is held during the annual SICAB of Seville, the most prestigious Spanish Horse exhibition in the world.
This is a unique opportunity to admire years of craftsmen tradition in horse-drawn carriages. The nicest wood carvings, the finest upholstery and the brightest golden accessories decorate mighty carriages. Men in "traje corto" and large hats, and women in "traje de gitano" parade their horse drawn carriages proudly through the streets to our pure delight.
Seville‘s April Fair (April 28th - May 3rd) 
The April feria of Seville is the biggest event of the year for this city. More than 1 million visitors, tourists as well as the jet set, come to admire the art of women dancing in the streets dressed with magnificent traditional Flamenco outfits. Parading decorated horses pull rich antique carriages and partiers invade the town drinking liters of Manzanilla.The whole week, "Sevillana" music floats in the air till very late at night.Magic nights, all tapas bars are filled non stop, happiness is the only thing on peoples mind. Top World Motorcycle Championships - Spanish Grand Prix (May 1st - 3rd)
Every year during the month of March Jerez becomes the focus of world attention thanks to a high-profile sporting event: the World Motorcycle Championship Grand Prix. The Jerez circuit is the venue for the first event on the world MotoGP racing calendar, one the most important in the motorcycle sporting world. Jerez‘ Feria de Caballo (May 10th - 17th)
The Gonzalez Hontoria Park provides the unbeatable setting for the Horse Fair where over two hundred casetas are set up and are open for all to enjoy, both Jerezanos and visitors alike. A spectacular Horse Parade takes place throughout the duration of the Fair, with hundreds of horsemen and women attired in the traditional short-jacketed suits, their companions wearing the even more characteristic gypsy dresses, ride around the streets of the Real.
During the Horse Fair there are numerous exhibitions, events and both national and international competitions of Classical Dressage, Doma Vaquera, RAID, Polo, Driving, Gala Shows by the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, Yeguada de la Cartuja, EQUISUR and Bull Fights, all combining to make the Horse Fair an experience to be enjoyed to the full.
Top Procession of Rocio (June 1st)
At the northwest edge of the Donana national park, amidst a wildlife-rich marshland, (Marismas del Rocio) is the sleeping village of El Rocio. This city, most of the year deserted, is on Pentecost, the scene of the biggest pilgrimage in Spain. The "romeria" (pilgrimage) has been a traditions since the 15th century. The legend has that a hunter from Villamanrique discovered the statue of the Virgin Mary in a hole in the trunk of a tree.
Every year nearly a million of Spaniards, come from as far as Tenerife or Barcelona to express their devotion during three days of festivities and celebrations. The pilgrims flock on foot, on horseback and by colorful horse carriages to the site of Our Lady of the Dew, the Virgin del Rico.
Definitely Andalusia at it's best. An event not to miss.
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