Carnival in Spain

Come to Spain and enjoy the carnival - a fun festival that is celebrated in many places all over Spain. Nearly everything is allowed on these winter days before Lent, the period leading up to Easter. Wild partying, humour, parodies and joy fill the streets of the towns and cities in Spain. Carnivals not be missed, because they are so original and spectacular, are those of Cadiz, in Andalusia, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, both internationally renowned and declared of International Tourist Interest. In the Canary Islands you can also find the Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It is one of the oldest festivals in the capital of the island of Gran Canaria (it dates back to the 16th century). Visitors especially love the Gala de la Reina (Queen's Parade), typical humorous groups and songs, body paint and costumes, and the Gran Cabalgata (Great Parade), where more than 200,000 people gather every year. This festival is just as well known as the popular one in Maspalomas (in the south of the island).

The hallmarks of the Cadiz carnival are the typical songs and ditties sung by a variety of music bands: these songs are full of irony and social criticism and are composed by the various popular clubs and associations that take part in the festivities. Why not take a walk around the centre of town and let yourself be swept up in the atmosphere of fun and abandon? Don't forget the parade on the Sunday known as the "domingo de Piñata", with plenty of high spirits and good humour to delight both young and old.

Meanwhile the capital of the island of Tenerife hosts one of the most important carnivals in the world. Experience the glamour to be seen all over the city, take part in parades where imagination, fantasy and the spectacular costumes of the carnival queen hopefuls will amaze everyone, let yourself be carried away by the music, the beat and the high spirits of this celebration which attracts people from all corners of the world. This jubilant explosion of vitality will leave you with an indelible memory.

But there are many other Carnival festivities in Spain, almost all of them original and all of them guaranteeing generous doses of fun, humour, creativity and group participation. Why not see for yourself?