Festivals of national tourist interest

Popular festivals are part of the culture and folklore of the different peoples that make up a region or community. Thanks to this legacy, some of them have been recognized nationally, thus becoming a Festival of National Tourist Interest. In Spain there are many types: religious, literary, historical, folk ...

Attending one of these popular festivals allows us to know the city or town that we visit from a different perspective. One where the entire town takes to the streets to enjoy a community event or holiday to celebrate and that makes the visitor participate in something so special. Spain has more than 60 Festivals of National Tourist Interest spread throughout the country. Would you like to know any of the most outstanding? Keep reading!

The wedding of Isabel de Segura (2016)

Teruel is the starting point of the Europa Enamorada route thanks to the famous legend of the Lovers of Teruel. The idea arose from the desire of the Aragonese city council to twin with Verona, the scene of the even more well-known play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

Since 1997 the city recreates in February the tragic love story of Diego de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura on the occasion of Valentine's Day. During these days, Teruel goes back to the XNUMXth century and its inhabitants dress in medieval clothes and adorn the historic center of the city to represent the legend. This festival, known as the Weddings of Isabel de Segura, attracts more visitors every year.

The representation of the love story of the Lovers of Teruel is complemented by a varied program of activities for all audiences. For example, a tournament of traditional Aragonese games, an exhibition of medieval dances, sighting of lights and other stars, musical animations of fires and pyrotechnics, flight exhibition of raptors, henna workshop and distribution of tea, games and children's cucañas, blessing and distribution of garlic soups, charity parades and a long etcetera.

We can take advantage of the trip to see the Weddings of Isabel de Segura and know the mausoleum where the characters of this story are buried. It is recommended to book the guided tour of this mausoleum in advance to ensure a place, since it is a very frequented place.

Don Juan in Alcalá de Henares (2018)

This Festival of National Tourist Interest is a very special occasion to visit Alcalá de Henares and take the opportunity to visit the Cervantes Birthplace Museum, its Plaza and Calle Mayor or its famous University.

Since 1984 this town has been hosting this event, the largest theatrical staging of this place based on the play "Don Juan Tenorio" by the writer José Zorrilla.

It is the largest theatrical staging of the World Heritage City Alcalá de Henares and is based on the famous play by José Zorrilla "Don Juan Tenorio". The night of All Saints (November 1) is the Night of Don Juan, the archetypal character of male seduction. The theatrical work is performed in the beautiful historic center of Alcalá de Henares, in what is known as the Huerta del Palacio Arzobispal, where thousands of people come every year to contemplate the productions and the different stages of the company selected for the occasion.

Corpus Sawdust Carpets in Elche (2014)

The Serrín Carpet Festival in Elche de la Sierra (Albacete) takes place the night before the religious festival of Corpus Christi. This tradition dates back to 1964 when a group of only ten residents of the town made a beautiful carpet of colored shavings by surprise on the route of the procession.

The original idea came from Francisco Carcelén, a town merchant who on one of his trips to Catalonia looked at the flower carpets that were made there and thought that something similar could be done in Elche de la Sierra, taking advantage of the surplus chips that existed in the village.

The initiative was so well received that since then this beautiful tradition has been maintained. Nowadays, every year the carpenters' clubs come up with new designs, taking advantage of all the artistic possibilities that sawdust offers.

An aesthetic dimension is added to the religious justification of this Festival of National Tourist Interest, which changes the entire frame of references. Elcheños show the work, and the illusion that they have put to beautify the streets on the Corpus Christi festival. This effort was also recognized with the distinction of Asset of Cultural Interest.

During the Corpus Christi weekend in Elche de la Sierra, in addition to enjoying these spectacular colored carpets, a festival is also organized with a lot of activities designed for all audiences: band concerts or sports competitions, are some examples.

Moors and Christians Festival, Alicante (1984)

The Callosa d'en Sarrià festivities date back to 1860 and were declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in the Valencian Community since 1984.

Religious sentiment is also very present in these festivals as there is a great one towards the Mare de Déu de las Injurias in Callosa. The most outstanding events around the patron saint are the floral offering and the processions that are celebrated like the one that includes biblical characters that are represented on the route.

The other side of this Festival of National Tourist Interest are the parades and dances of the Moorish and Christian sides, each one wearing their best costumes. The dances of the Moro and Christian side are some of the most striking acts of Callosa due to their originality and uniqueness. A festival of color and music with spectacular floats that could soon become an Asset of Local Relevance.