Feria de Malaga
15th to 24th August 2008
Not only is Malaga one of the most underrated cities in Spain, its annual
festival is one of the biggest on the national calendar of fiestas yet it
attracts little attention from overseas visitors. The origins of the festival
can be traced back as far as 1487, the year when Fernando and Isabella rode
triumphantly into the city to reclaim it as a part of Catholic Spain from its
Moorish occupants. Lesser known than Seville's Feria de Abril, the fiesta is
similar in size and there is great competition between the two cities to outdo
one another with their annual festivities.
The Feria begins with the 'Pregón de la Feria' which is the official
announcement of the opening of the festival which is read out by a famous local
celebrity from the balcony of the town hall (this year it's Sandro, a Malaga FC
football player). This is followed by an enormous firework display and ten days
of raucous partying Andaluz style with open air bars serving thousands of litres
of sherry, spontaneous flamenco dancing in the street and the city's main annual
bullfighting festival at the city's Plaza de Toros.
By day activities are centred around Marques de Larios in the heart of the city
centre just opposite the port. Throughout the city beautiful women with their
daughters stroll around in flamenco dresses whilst the city's horse and cart
taxis are decorated with colourful ribbons and their drivers wear traditional
costumes. Street music and sherry consumption are ever presents whilst there's
plenty entertainment to keep the children amused. The Feria de Día lasts from
around noon until 7pm then there's a lull before the storm as the evening
session begins.
By night the focus of the Feria moves to the Real de la Feria on the outskirts
of the city where the Feria de Noche starts to warm up around 9pm and continues
until dawn. This is a huge fairground with over 200 marquees (casetas)
specifically erected for the Feria each of which houses different groups of
Malagueños, known as peñas, who meet here to party every evening. These casetas
are open to visitors and you can buy food and tapas there whilst enjoying the
party. There are shuttle buses running back and to from the city centre to the
fairground throughout the night whilst the taxi business does a roaring trade.
See Also:
http://www.Feria-de-malaga.es/ in Spanish
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