Madrid Festivals
These are the main specific Madrid festivals which take place in the capital.
Other national fiestas are celebrated in Madrid but we won't include them below.
San Isidro
The festival of San Isidro takes place on 15th May although major bullfights
are held at Las Ventas, Madrid's bullring for the best part of a month around
this date.
This is the world's largest bullfighting event which attracts all the
best matadors. Tickets for the bullfights are sold out for the whole month well
in advance. The other side of San Isidro consists of about nine days of varied
events with many Madrileños dressed in traditional costume.
[Read more about San
Isidro]
Dos de Mayo
If you're in Madrid at the start of May be warned that both the 1st and 2nd
are public holidays. Dos de Mayo is a celebration of events on 2nd May 1808 when
a popular revolt against the French occupiers began in Puerta del Sol which
would lead to the War of Independence in which the French were defeated.
Almudena
Whilst San Isidro is the male patron saint of Madrid, the Virgin of Almudena
is the female one. This celebration takes place on 9th November.
La Paloma
During the month of August the majority of Madrid's residents head for their
annual holidays on the coast yet there are some important 'castizo' festivals
beginning with San Cayetano then San Lorenzo followed by La Paloma on 15th (it's
the national holiday of Asunción in the rest of the country). With one excuse
after another to party the old centre (near C/Toledo and Plaza de la Paja) is
full of those non-holidaymakers who make the most of the ongoing street parties.
Festival de Otoño
Madrid's Autumn Festival begins during the first week of October and lasts
for a month. It is one of the country's top music festivals with dance, music
and theatre companies from all over the world. Prestigious events are held in
the capital's main theatres including the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro Madrid,
the Círculo de Bellas Artes and Teatro Albéniz.
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