The Seville Fair in April
THE SEVILLE FAIR
La Feria de Sevilla en España
Seville is an enchanting place. It was the first of 3 stops from our trip to Europe and the first one for me. On this occasion we visited Seville, Prague, Amsterdam & Barcelona. This trip was very special to me since I took it with my lifetime friends. I have personally been wanting to go to Seville in particular, due to its cultural and historical significance. We decided to take the trip on the eve of the world famous “Feria de Abril” or Seville Fair.
This fastuos fair runs the first week of April or 2 weeks after the end of Easter and runs for a week. The celebrations within the fairgrounds start at 10 am and continue well into the early morning of the following day. It is a week long event so the fairgrounds don’t ever close until the week is over. People drink, eat and dance at the “cazetas” who are family or company owned tents for people to mingle. Most of the 1000+ cazetas are private, which means that invitation is required for these. However there are free access tents or “Cazetas de Libre acceso” sponsored by the Seville’s city district, unions and political parties.
The fair’s history dates back into the mid 1800’s and Sevillians have been historical hesitant to share or welcome tourists and visitors to this historic celebration and tradition. A tradition that has been kept to believe it is a cultural celebrations by sevillians for sevillians, however 2017 marked the initiative of the tourist “cazeta” or the name locals unofficially gave the free access cazetas which welcomed tourists or anyone who wanted to join the celebration.
For more information regarding the Feria Abril and planning your visit go to: https://feriadesevilla.andalunet.com
Attire
Attendants at the fair wear traditional flamenco attires. You can see a few images of this year on this post. I am usually drawn to wear traditional garments and wearing one of these beautiful flamenco dresses. I couldn’t just not miss the chance to live this experience with the attire, although it is frown upon by the locals. The dresses are very expensive to buy and even make. My dress and flamenco skirt were custom made in NY. However women and men prepare and assign a lot of time and money in advance for these attires. There is even a fashion circuit and market for flamenco fashion . Men and women alike dress up to attend the fair.
There are certain rules to wear this majestic garments properly. You might really want to avoid looking like you are wearing a costume since it is not one, it is a traditional garment with which sevillians celebrate with full of nostalgia and pride their heritage. Some tips include:
Not wearing sun glasses for women. An umbrella will serve you as a more appropriate alternative.
Not wearing any coats, jackets, cardigans or layering over the dresses at any time for point. This is what the mantillas are for.
Flamenco Attire consists of:
Peineta or comb.
Flower ( usually a rose, worn on the side or at the top or crown of your head.
Big regal earrings, the bigger the better! I personally think that for this reason necklaces are not necessary.
Flamenco Dress with related patterns usually the most popular is the polka dots or “lunares”.
Bracelets (optional depending on styling)
Mantón de Manila or shawl with fringe and brooch
Esparto Wedge Slippers, some places call these espadrilles.
At the Cazetas
Once you have the perfect attire, your access contact into one of the cazetas and figure out the ride you are most likely dropped of at the main entrance of the Feria! There you will probably make your way to the cazeta you are going to hang out. In our case, my friend who lives in Seville is a member of the Seville Futbol Club. The club has a big cazeta for its members and the parties are great!
Neighborhoods
Tetuan
Nervion
Canal de ALfonso XIII
Punte Isabel II
First Day and openning celebration (evening)
On arrival day and with the jetlag kicking around lunch time, we went on get lunch at Zelai.
Zelai
After an amazing lunch we went on to walk around the city to do sightseeing around Seville main historic buildings and landmarks. Please keep in mind our main our main objective was to concentrate on the Feria events. However, I swore myself I will have to come back to do more of the cultural and historical sights of Seville. There is just a lot to see for just a few days. I will say the reasonable amount of time to stay in Seville if from 5-7 weeks. We unfortunately only had time to stay 3 days! This city is a World’s Cultural Heritage patrimony, it is the home to about over 13 historical and cultural sites of importance dating Spain’s colonization records and a personal objective to learn “ General Archive of the Indies” documenting the colonization of the Americas and the Philippines. I am basically coming back for this one in particular. In the case you're into religious tourism.
City Guide
Airport and getting established
Seville’s Airport is very small and we were not able to get direct flights into the city. I personally had to do a stopover in Madrid’s Barajas airport, which is the most popular stop over to get to Seville. THe flight is very short about 45 minutes. Jetlag was already kicking in. My dear friend Paulina met us there.The airport in Seville is very small but upon our arrival our baggage claim was pretty fast!
Transportation
Unfortunately Seville doesn’t count with any hailing applications at the time we visited the city. Yes this means, no Ubers or Lyfts or anything close. Local taxi cabs are an affordable option in any case but these are scarce during the feria days and around the siesta time (after lunch time in the afternoon).
The main focus of our stay was the feria however if I have to provide advice on this point please stay about 5 days. Seville is a historical city it is a world heritage sign and hosts museums and history that dates all the way back to Columbus exploration to America.
Stay suggestions
Getting accommodations arrangements via hotel reservations and or hospitality sites in advance like Airbnb is a good idea! I started to look for options around January and February and it was already challenging, however not impossible if you really do your homework. Since transportation is a challenge in Seville during the Feria, reserving at hotels and accomodations near the Feria is the best choice! To hail a taxi cab one must queue and wait for your turn. This will challenge your patience! It is very easy to see people crossing the Puente de la Delicias by foot in espadrilles! Even though you might not want to be that person, you might just have to!!! keep in mind it is all worth it for a day or week of color, joy, music, great food and drinks and a fantastic time!
Food
at the Feria
If you are over the legal age, the main source of hydration is the “rebujito” drink made of vino de manzanilla, soda and tons of ice. Not sure if it was the hype of these days but the drink is extremely light and you can drink this all day long without getting drunk! Other popular drinks is manzanilla, vino fino ( which is a dry wine) and light beer.
You need a whole different league of spanish knowledge to determine the meaning of their most traditional dishes. I did the homework for you, hoping you will know next time you visit what to order! Everything is delicious fruit of the sea in its majority...You are welcomed!
Among the most traditional dishes you are able to find in the Feria & Seville are the following:
Appetizers:
Chacinas ibéricas - Anything related to cured meats.
Jamón Ibérico (de pata negra o bellota)- A separate must from the chacinas!
Queso- (Cheese)
Langostinos y gambas ( Prawns & Shrimp)
Main:
Pescado fresco - Fish.A must, especially during the “Pescaito” celebration.
Boquerones (Fresh Anchovies)
Pijotas ( Fried small hake)
Cazón en adobo (Deep fried Fish)
Calamares- best I have tasted in my life!
Choco ( Cuttlefish, texture is similar to calamari)
Salmonetes (Red Mullet fish usually baked)
Tortilla de Papa ( a spanish classic)
Salmorejo (Gazpacho)
Everything is really served in family size plates to share! You will need lots of portions throughout the day to sustain all the dancing!
Sightseeing
Many of the main landmarks are walkable, and we will rate Seville as a walkable city on all aspects. Beauty awaits at the turn of every corner! See below all the main sights we were able to explore:
Parque de Maria Luisa
Plaza America
Plaza de España
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
Hotel Alfonso XIII
Real Maestranza
Puente de Triana
Santa Cruz ( which is the the neighborhood where all the following historic buildings are located)
Catedral de Sevilla
Archivo General de Indias
Nervion (Popular Shopping District)
I want to thank my beautiful lifetime friends for taking me in this trip to Europe and experience this with them! It only felt amazing because I went with them! Guilla, Caro, Tania, Denisse & Veronica.
Especial thanks to the Gomez-Toledo Family for hosting me with love like family Paulina, David, Natalia & Sofia...Thank you!!
