1. FESTIVALS IN JULY/AUGUST
55 Mérida Theatre Festival
(Extremadura)
Open air classical theatre in
a Greco-Latin surrounding
27th June to 30th August 2009
Further information: www.festivaldemerida.es
Mérida Theatre Festival is one
of the greatest theatre events in the world with Greco-Latin
content.
The performances on the bare stones of the Roman include
contemporary interpretations of writings that authors
such as Sophocles, Esquilo, Euripides and Seneca, among
others, wrote more than two thousand years ago.
The buildings of the town become alive and turn into
stage sites: the Roman theatre, but also the Roman Amphitheatre,
the back stage, the garden of the theatre, the same
streets and squares of the capital of Extremadura, whose
historical monuments were given the status of World
heritage Site by the Unesco. In these places, the Greco-Latin
theatre will merge with the music, the new artistic
tendencies, the street shows or those shows for children.
32 Almagro Theatre Festival (Castilla
La Mancha)
International classical theatre
of the golden age
2nd July to 26th July 2009
Further information:
http://www.festivaldealmagro.com/2009/en/presentacion/
Almagro has become a good testimony to the revitalization
of an urban space through the history and culture, particularly
through an expression of a tradition so strong in Spain,
such as Theatre.
The “Corral de Comedias” is the only theatre
that has survived the seventeenth century. Institutionalized
activities around the theatre of the Golden Age and
empowering the study of our classics are some of the
main aims of this unique Festival.
The Festival has developed its spaces throughout the
city of Almagro, to the point where there are more than
20 scenic spaces, consolidating Almagro as a city/stage.
The use of private homes for more involvement, and the
recovery of the most emblematic spaces of the city,
were actions undertaken by the Festival in order to
participate actively in the implementation of its Historic
Value.
24th Edition
Veranos de la Villa 2009 (Comunidad de Madrid)
Open air concerts, movies, theatre, ballet, flamenco,
marionettes, poetry, music for sunset, circus25nd
June to 23rd August 2009
Further information:
http://www.esmadrid.com/veranosdelavilla/
In the present edition artists from 30
countries, 130 scenic projects and more than 1.100 performances
will be staging at the most beautiful and picturesque
scenarios of Madrid: Escenario Puerta del Ángel
( Casa de Campo), Campo del Moro and the Jardines de
Sabatini (close to the Royal Palace), etc.
2. POPULAR FIESTAS
AND TRADITIONS
San Fermines Pamplona (Navarra)
Pyrotechnic and bull-running
6th July to 14th July 2009
Further information:
http://www.sanfermin.com/
The ritual of running with the bulls originated
around 1591 with the need to move the bulls from the
city corral, where they were placed until the day of
their fight, to the Plaza de Toros. The town's youth
would run with and through the herd as the animals progressed
through the town square.
Nowadays, the encierro begins at 8:00
a.m. sharp when the first cohete firecracker is lit
to announce the release of the bulls from their corral.
A second firecracker signals that the last bull has
left the corral. The course concludes at Pamplona's
Plaza de Toros, and the bulls are herded inside the
corralillos until the afternoon's corrida. Once all
of the bulls have entered the arena, a third rocket
is released while a fourth firecracker indicates that
the bulls are in their bullpens and the run has concluded.
Some participants of the encierro remain in the arena,
when vaquillas emboladas (young cows with wrapped horns)
are released among them and toss the participants, to
the general amusement of the crowd.
During these days, the town has a carnival with rides
and ferris wheels, as well as an abundance of sangría
and kalimotxo sold by bars and restaurants.
3. EXHIBITIONS
Exhibition - Joaquín
Sorolla, (Madrid)
Portraits and landscapes of the
19th/20th century
26th June to 6th September 2009
Apart from multiple works from the Spanish impressionist
painter and graphic artist Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923),
the series Visiones sobre España will be presented.
Where:
Museo del Prado
C/ Ruiz de Alarcón 23
Madrid
Further information:
Tel.: 91 330 2800
http://museoprado.mcu.es/
Photoespaña 2009, (Madrid)
Photography Festival
3rd June to 26th July 2009
12th Edition of the international festival of photography
and visual arts. This year´s main topic will deal
with “cotidianity“.
Further information:
http://www.phedigital.com/index.php?sec=home
4. EXPATRIATES CLUBS
Expatriates Clubs
American Club of
Estepona
calle Hernán Cortés 2, Marbella
tel.: 952 793 059
www.acestepona.org/
European Vibe
Calle Fernández de los Ríos 98, 2A, 28015
Madrid
http://www.europeanvibe.com/
Marbella Executive Toastmasters Club
Marbella
tel.: 95 281 38 70
The International Theatre Club
Barcelona
tel.: 93 321 93 46
The International Women's Club Barcelona
calle Sta Amelia 10-12, Estudi 3, Barcelona
11/5/2009-
Fiestas en June
There will be numerous folk festivals and cultural events
in June. The most important religious holiday is Corpus
Christi on June 11, which will be celebrated with processions
in many parts of Spain. Another religious event that
will be interesting to witness is the "Escenificacion
de la Aparicion del santisimo cristo” in Griñon (Madrid)
on June 17, where the appearance of Jesus Chris will
be staged.
Madrid has a lot to offer for everybody this month.
Enjoy the “Fiestas de Primavera” (spring celebrations)
in Hortaleza (June 5. – 7) or the “Fiestas Patronales”
in Coslada (June 12. – 15). In the neighbourhood of
La Latina, you can visit the “Fiestas de Aluche” (June
29 – July 7). If you are interested in independent music,
we recommend the Festival of Independent Music in Villaverde
(June 5 - 7).
Lovers of progressive sounds should not miss the Sónar
Festival held in Barcelona (June 18. – 20), where you
can enjoy the latest trends and most relevant artists
of the Spanish and international electronic music scene.
The different venues together cover more than 10,000
sq. metres, with indoor and outdoor areas.
If you prefer Flamenco, visit the province of Cordoba
on June 20: the second edition of "La Noche Blanca del
Flamenco" is set to become the largest global event
of flamenco art.
The night of June 23 (Midsummer night's eve), also called
“Noche de San Juan” (Night of Saint John) celebrates
the beginning of summer with bonfires, not only in Spain
but also in many other parts of Europe. In A Coruña
(Galicia), this is called “Fogueiras de San Xoán” (bonfires
of Saint Joan), and thousands of bonfires will be lit
on Riazor beach or in the various districts of the city,
which is home to the Roman Hercules Lighthouse. Families
and groups of friends dance around the fires and share
a feast of roast sardines and boiled potatoes. In the
town of San Pedro Manrique in Soria, this even includes
a fire walk, or “Paso del fuego”. At 9:00 pm, a bonfire
is lit with 2,000 kilos of oak wood, and at around 11:30,
a carpet-like path of red-hot coals is prepared. Young
men dance around the fire, and at midnight ten to twelve
of them begin the walk across the coles. Women dressed
in white, called "móndidas", which are said to represent
ancient Celtiberian priestesses, walk in a procession.
An unusual event in June is the “Batalla del Vino” (wine
battle) in the Riojan town of Haro, which takes place
during the Fiesta de San Pedro (June 29). The origins
of this tradition might go back to a dispute with the
nearby village of Miranda de Ebro over the ownership
of some local crags. In the peaceful battle, the participants
tirelessly despatch litres and litres of wine over their
adversaries. Don´t miss this impressive spectacle.
For the sports freaks we recommend the Windsurfing World
Championship in Lanzarote at the end of this month (June
27 – July 7.) at the Costa Teguise, where the top candidates
will give their best in the waters of Las Cucharas beach.
The categories are men's and women's freestyle, so that
the visitors can enjoy some spectacular action.
