Entertainment
Celebrations in Andalucia.
The end of Holy Week in April signals the start of Spain's party season. From dancing horses to running the bulls, David Clement-Davies rounds up the most colourful and exuberant celebrations.
Cordoba Cruces de Mayo (May 1-3) Festival de los Patios Cordobeses (May 4-16) Feria- Nuestra Senora de Salud (last week of May).
As in Seville, beautiful Cordoba makes much of Semana Santa. But its feria, of Nuestra Senora de Salud, is gentler than Seville's and is at its most entrancing when the Juderia, the old, labyrinthine Jewish quarter along the side of the Mesquita (mosque) begins to jostle with costumes and dancers. For a very unusual festival, visit the Festival de Patios Cordobeses a week before. The city will probably be less full and accommodation easier to find for the ensuing party. The Spanish patio has its roots both in Roman and Arabic culture and families unlock a floral and architectural treasury, hidden for the rest of the year behind sturdy iron grates, as they compete to delight visitors and win prizes.
Madrid Fiesta De San Isidro (May 15 for two weeks).
It's entirely appropriate that stolid, grandiose Madrid should begin its biggest fiesta, dedicated to the city's patron saint, San Isidore, with a speech. The Pregon is delivered by the mayor on the day of the saint, even if no one's listening, and then the games begin. The capital may have little of the intimacy of, say, Jerez or Cordoba, but it has its own attractions and the Fiesta of San Isidro is especially significant as it heralds the start of the capital's bullfighting season, and for bull and matador alike all roads lead to Madrid. There is also a public party on May 2, the Festival of St Antonio in August and any number of local events.
Huelva Virgen del Rocķo (June 1-4).
If a foreigner tells a Spaniard he is a 'Rociero', he'll probably be met by a slightly resentful grimace at such impertinence. The pilgrimage - or romerķa - is not for tourists and to follow the Camino (the way) through the Cota Donana National Park, you really need to be invited along by one of the Brotherhoods, semi-religious guilds that set out in full costume from villages right across Spain. They converge on the little town of El Rocio, following their local virgins in flower-decked carriages pulled by oxen. There, after days of ecstatic partying, the young men of the mountain town of Almonte, and only they, literally fight for the right to manhandle a huge silver Madonna around town. "The Paloma Blanca", or White Dove, as she is called, is said to be the source of many a miraculous cure, and to take "the promise" to join the pilgrimage is probably the Andalucian equivalent of going to Mecca, rivalled only by the more sober northern route of Santiago del La Compostela. Part religious festival, part pagan rite, all the traditions, prejudices and superstitions of Andalucia converge at the little town. It is possible at least to watch the start, and one of the best places is Sanlucar de Barrameda, from where Columbus set sail in 1492. The procession that leads the virgin is splendid and there is little to compare with the sight of army landing craft carrying the horses and pilgrims across the Guadalquivir river and into the national park. Sanlucar also hosts a sherry festival in early April, flamenco, jazz and music festivals and its famous beachfront horse races in August.
Pamplona The Running of The Bulls (July 6-14) Spain's most famous fiesta.
Immortalised by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises, a novel slimmer than a cape, the festival of San Fermin is when the young men run with the bulls, someone invariably gets badly hurt or even killed, and the tabloids start running their campaigns about Spanish cruelty to animals. The fiesta itself is a feast of fireworks, music and processions, rich in tradition and spoilt perhaps only by the sheer weight of visitors. The dangerous bit, for humans at least, is when the bulls are let loose every morning from the Coralillos of Santo Domingo to run the course to the town's ring, where the daily fights take place. To take part, you will have to be at the start before 8am when rockets signal the beginning of the mayhem. Pamplona can be one of Spain's most exciting and most upsetting fiesta, but one of its nicest moments is when it winds up on July 14 with a candle-lit procession.
Malaga Feria (August 11-19).
As if in penance for the extremities of their coastline, the Malagans celebrate Semana Santa with more solemnity and gravitas than anyone else. The thrones carrying the holy images through the faded grandeur of Malaga's streets need up to 200 people to bear them along. But Malagans have always known how to have a good time and their feria is one of the most exuberant. In the day, the fun takes place in the streets and bars across the city and at night switches to the Cortijo de Torres on the edge of town. It is also a place to see two unique dances, Verdiales and Malequenas.
Entertainment
Andalucía offers less organised entertainment opportunities than other parts of Europe. However, the region provides much of its own entertainment: 600 kilometres of sandy beaches, huge, unspoiled natural areas and the simple pleasures of eating and drinking on sidewalk cafés or on the beach, just watching the world go by. Below we list a variety of themed attractions, trips, entertainments, associations and hobby pursuits.
Waterparks:
AQUAOLA
Cenes de la Vega, Granada
Just nine rides here, but this is enough to keep all ages cool and happy, including tiny tots. Adults 9 euro, children 7 euro. Tel: 958 486 189 http://www.granadamap.com/aquaola/indexsp.htm
PARQUE ACUATICO MIJAS
Fuengirola (on the by-pass)
One of the best water fun-parks around, located on the outskirts of Fuengirola. Wave pool, kamikaze slide, water chutes, adventure river with winding raft slides and a mini aqua park for the kids. The park also has a full entertainment program including shows for children, water aerobics (displays and free classes), regional dances and beach volleyball competitions.
Open 10.30 - 1.,30 (until May 31), 1.,00 - 18.00 (June)
Tickets: 12 euro adults, 7 euro children 4-12 years, pensioners over 65, 4 euro. Free admittance for second child (4-12) of a family.
Discount of 40% after 15.00, or 16.00 in August. Tel. 952 460 404, 952 460 409 http://www.aquamijas.com/plantillas/index.php?SEC=home
AQUAPARK TORREMOLINOS
Carretera Circunvalacion 10, Torremolinos
Numerous water rides and slides, also sea lion shows. Open: 10.00 - 18.00
Adults 14.50 euro, children 10.25 euro, Pensioners 15.50 euro. Tel. 952 38 88 88 http://www.aspro-ocio.es/torremolinos/
AQUA SHERRY
Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadíz)
Seventeen fun-filled rides, plus a picnic area, at this relatively new aqua park located in between Cadiz and Puerto de Santa María. Adults 13 euro, children 9 euro.Tel: 956 87 05 11
AQUA VELIS
Torre de Mar
One of the largest, splashiest water-parks in the province with 21 different rides to choose from including some super-fast slides, dinghy river ride and paddling pool for young children (and parents!). Adults 11 euro, children 8 euro. Tel: 952 54 27 62 http://www.atransfers.com/aquavelis/
CABLE SKI
San Pedro, Marbella (Málaga) Urb. Las Medranas, San Pedro, Marbella.
Open from 11am to 9pm closed Mondays.
This attraction is either for those wanting to learn or improve their water skiing, or just for those who want a fun day out. The cable system pulls skiers around the lake. Each trip around the lake lasts about one minute but the cable can be set at a speed to suit your ability. Slow for children and beginners and faster for the expert skier.Tel: 952 785 579
Wildlife Animal & Bird Parks
Eye to eye with the wolves in the LOBO PARK
Are you looking for a new destination for a day out and witness wolves in an exceptional environment that let’s no doubt that animals in captivity do have a chance to live in a semi-natural habitat? In short distance of Antequera (just 7 kilometers) you find the LOBO PARK where you may look at a wolf eye to eye for the first time in your life – an unforgettable emotion!
Enjoy one of the most attractive wolf parks where you find the 4 most interesting wolf sub-species in the world. Open daily 10:00 – 18:00 Guided Tour (in English): Adults 7.50 euros, children 5.50 euros http://www.lobopark.com/navi/index_e.htm
Selwo
Ctra. N-340 Km 162.5, Estepona.
Selwo is a fascinating adventure in contact with nature. The park covers 100 hectares and is home to more than 2.000 animals from the five continents. The animals live in liberty recreating the animal's natural habitat. Visitors are taken on a four-hour tour, on foot and in four-wheel drive trucks.
Open daily 10.00 - 19.00. Direct bus service from Málaga bus station at 9.00, and from Algeciras on Sundays only.
Tickets 15 euros adults, 11 euros children up to four years old and seniors. http://www.selwo.es/
Crocodile Park
Torremolinos, Málaga
Imagine: an African adventure at your feet, but fenced off! Europe's only crocodile park has 300 crocodiles, from babies right up to the huge five-metre long adults weighing in at almost 500kg. The park has now opened a mini zoo especially for children with deer and miniature ponies, and now counts over 300 crocs among its inhabitants, including the massive Giant of the Nile and 'Big Nose', an old age pensioner of 77, measuring nearly five metres. The park's 'nursery' is always busy thanks to the park's successful breeding programme (each female can lay 30-50 eggs a year). There is also a museum where you can swot up on croc facts, a video presentation, restaurant and souvenir shop.
Open daily 10.00-18.00.
Adults: 7.50 euros Kids: 5.25 euros +65: 5,25 euros. Children under 4 years: Free. An adult must accompany children under 12 years. http://www.crocodile-park.com/
Fuengirola Zoo
Avda. Camilo José Cela, Fuengirola. 5 minutes from the bus station and train station.
Zoos aren't what they used to be, fortunately. Fuengirola's new, visitor and animal-friendly zoo is an exception with a wide range of species from around the world maintained in a humane environment.
Tickets are also available from hotels, travel agencies, and the Portillo bus terminals.
Open daily from 10.00 hours.
Closing time: depends on season, consult Zoo.
Entry: 12.30 euros, children from 3 to 9: 8.60 euros, Retired: 8.90 euros.
1 euro discount for passengers arriving on the Malaga local train. http://www.zoofuengirola.com/
Theme parks
The Isla Mágica amusement park is located on the original Expo site in Seville and opened in 1997 at a cost of some 15 billion pesetas. The overall theme is the 16th century Spanish colonial adventure and highlight rides include the Anaconda and El Jaguar roller coasters, the latter with high speed 360 degree turns. Another popular ride is the Iguazú set in an Amazon jungle waterfall. There are also various show staged throughout the day, and a cinema with tilting seats and a giant screen where you can re-live an explorer's adventures.
Open from March to October from 11am to midnight.
Entry is 19 euros for adults and 13 euros for children up to 12 years old. Tel: 902 161 716 http://www.islamagica.es/
TIVOLI WORLD
Malaga
The Costa del Sol's biggest amusement park, located in Arroyo de la Miel, just 2 km's from the Benalmádena Costa. There are over two dozen thrilling rides to choose from as well as a tiny tots section, restaurants, bars and a professional caliber program of concerts mainly by Spanish performers, as well as some 'look alike' stars. http://www.tivoli.es/
Nature
El Torcal Park Nature Reserve is known for it's unusual limestone rock formations. Located about 30 km north of Málaga city in the direction of Antequera near the village of Villanueva de la Concepción, within El Torcal Park's 17 square km are some of the most beautiful and impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. The whole area was under sea until one hundred million years ago.
Cueva de Nerja
Nerja, Malaga
The historic monument which is the most spectacular are the Nerja caves which are located just three kilometres from the centre of town and comprise a natural archaeological cave containing the world's widest column.
These fantastic caves have been sympathetically transformed into a natural theatre where several concerts and ballets are staged during the summer. During July and August this year there is the 38th International Cave Festival with performances by manor international artists planned.
Cable Cars
The cable car system at Benalmadena was opened in 2003 and has fast become one of the main tourist attractions on the Costa del Sol. The modern Telecabina (or Teleférico) is part of the Selwo Adventure Parks group, which also has Selwo Aventura in Estepona and Selwo Marina in Benalmádena port.
The Telecabina takes you on an amazing 15-minute journey in a four-person cable car right up to the highest point on the Málaga coast at an altitude of almost 800m above sea level. From this superb vantage point, you not only have the most magnificent views of the Costa del Sol, but also the awesome panoramic vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains (white with snow in the winter months), the Guadalhorce Valley and on a clear day you can see Gibraltar and the coast of Africa.
In July and August the Bird of Prey Exhibition is at 1pm and 8pm and the Spanish Horse Dressage exhibition at noon, 6pm and 10pm.
Prices: 10 Euros for adults 7 Euros for children (4 - 12 years) 5.50 Euros one way (same for person plus bike).
To find the Telecabina, go into Arroyo de la Miel village and follow the signs for Tivoli World. Right opposite the entrance to Tivoli is the entry to the cable car. Normal opening hours are 10am-11.30pm (last cable car returns at 12.45am). High winds or extreme weather may disrupt the timetable.
Cinema
Yelmo Cineplex, Plaza Mayor (Malaga)
Twenty-screen Multi Cine located within the shopping centre near the airport.
Tel: 902 902 103 http://www.plazamayor.es/mainsite/common/default.aspx
Multicines Alfil (Fuengirola)
Eight-screen cinema located on Avenida Camilo Jose Cela.
Marbella Multicines, Puerto Banús
This seven Screen multi cinema complex is the only one on the Costa del Sol that shows films with the original sound track VO (Version Original with sub-titles in Spanish).