Torrevieja Information

Fiestas are official holidays, which often coincide with religious festivals and can last for several days. Spain has many fiestas for local patron saints and the Virgin Mary, as well as special days for regional communities too. It is true that not all fiestas are celebrated with a pageant, but most of them include, for example - religious processions, carnivals, bullfights and dancing etc. Spain is very well known for these fiestas and colourful parades, and most of them are a must to see.
 

Local Fiestas in Torrevieja

The local fiestas in Torrevieja are listed below, not forgetting that, on most local fiestas, everything will probably be shut! Having said that, if you need to buy something urgently, you may consider travelling to a neighbouring town, where this particular fiesta may not be celebrated!

The dates below are for 2008

Don't miss the February carnival in Torrevieja! There are two parades in this 'carnaval' that should be noted, the first one is on Sunday the 3rd of February and starts at 16:00 from the Plaza Maria Asuncion, proceeding south down Calle Ramon Gallud (this is the main shopping street in Torrevieja town center) and ending at Calle Patricio Perez. The second parade is on Saturday the 9th of February at 21.00 and begins at Calle Patricio Perez, traveling north up Calle Ramon Gallud (the main shopping street) and then onto Calle Patricio Zammit (in the direction of the coast) and then takes a right into Calle Ulpiano and right again into Calle Moriones. They are fun parades and include many eye catching fancy dress costumes.

The annual May fair in Torrevieja is a week of Andalusian style festivities, and is an event that attracts thousand of visitors from far and wide. This year the main festival start on Wednesday the 30th of April and the May fiesta closes on Sunday the 4th of May. There are small marquees with bars and a dance floor area (casetas) set up in the area next to the fair ground, within the port area, where people, some in traditional Andalusian costume, dance the famous "Sevillanas". Anyone can join in with the drinking, eating, dancing and general fun of the occasion, or simply sit back and soak up the typical party atmosphere of a Spanish fiesta. Listed below are some of the set events:

Wednesday 30th of April
Inauguration of the May fair
Time: 21:00
Place: Fair enclosure near to the port in Torrevieja
Activity: Dancing

Thursday 1st of May
Time: 23:00
Place: Fair enclosure near to the port in Torrevieja
Activity: Performance by Kiko and Sara

Friday 2nd of May
Time: 23:00
Place: Fair enclosure near to the port in Torrevieja
Activity: Flamenco dancing

Saturday 3rd of May
Time: 10:30
Place: Templo Arciprestal
Activity: Mass
Time: 23:00
Place: Fair enclosure near to the port in Torrevieja
Activity: Show followed by dancing

Sunday 4th of May
Place: Fair enclosure near to the port in Torrevieja
Activity: Eating, drinking and dancing at the various stalls.

There is a grand procession of men, women and children (all in traditional costumes) on horseback and in carriages which creates a very proud atmosphere. You may also take the opportunity to taste some of the finest Andalusian wines.

In Easter there are many processions including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which illustrate the story of the events leading up to the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. These processions make up an important part of Spanish religious traditions. Music plays an important part of the processions and sets the mood of the tale being told. Everyone takes great pride in playing in their band in the street parades, and the music can be very stirring.

Holy week in Torrevieja

Monday 17th of March
22:00 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, Patricio Pérez, Ramón Gallud, María Parodi, Unión Musical Torrevejense, Patricio Pérez and Caballero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal

Tuesday 18th of March
22:00 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, Clemente Gosálvez, Campoamor, Unión Musical Torrevejense, María Parodi, Ramón Gallud, Patricio Pérez and Caballero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal

Wednesday 19th of March
22:00 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas y María Parodi until the insersection with Calle Ramón Gallud.

Thursday 20th of March
18:00 - Silent Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, María Parodi, Ramón Gallud, Patricio Pérez, Campoamor, San Julián Gabriel Miró, Orihuela and Cabllero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal.
24:00 - Silent Procession itineray: Plaza del Calvario, Santísima Trinidad, San José, María Parodi and Caballero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal.

Friday 21st of March
08:00 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, Patricio Pérez, Ramón Gallud, Apolo, and Caballero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal.
19:30 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, María Parodi, Blasco Ibáñez, Campoamor, Patricio Pérez, Ramón Gallud, Zoa y Caballero de Rodas until the Temple Arciprestal.

Saturday 22nd of March
22:00 - Procession itineray: Av. Habaneras, in front of the bus station, Zoa, Pedro Lorca, Moriones, Caballero de Rodas, María Parodi, Paseo Vista Alegre, Joaquín Chapaprieta, La Paz, Plaza María Pastor Ramos, Campoamor, Maldonado, Ramón Gallud y Plaza de la Constitución

Sunday 23rd of March – Easter Day
08:00 - Procession itineray: Plaza de la Constitución, Caballero de Rodas, Azorín and Fotógrafos Darblade until Calle Concepción. Then on to Calle Concepción and Fotógrafos Darblade, calles Concepción, Ramón Gallud and Plaza de la Constitución.
Procession is followed by a celebration Mass

Monday 24th of March
08:30 - Holy Mass

A Spanish Christmas is celebrated in a slightly different way to the British version. In the Plaza (town square) you will often see a model of Bethlehem and other parts of the Holy Land - this is known as the Belen (meaning Bethlehem) and is well worth a look.

It is tradition in most Spanish families to have a family celebration meal on Christmas Eve night (Nochebuena). The meal consists of many courses including meat, cheese, prawns and other shell fish, a fish course, meat (often lamb) etc. and then they would have gateaux and other cakes (postres), coffee and liqueurs, plus chocolates and  champagnes (cava) or cider (sidra)etc. As the meal only begins at about 10.30 pm, the food and drink continues until Christmas day arrives and then families often choose to exchange presents. Christmas day is a national fiesta but not celebrated with a family meal like the UK as they have done this the night before.

Father Christmas in Spain is called Papa Noel, and, although this is not a real Spanish tradition, modern western influences have bought with them the 'Santa concept' and children expect Papa Noel to deliver them the latest toys etc. on Christmas night, just the same as children in the UK.

Boxing Day is not a Spanish tradition and is a special day only to the British, however some businesses may still be closed until after the festive season.

The Three Kings parade, which features 3 wise men on camels or horses, is held on the 5th of January. It's normally an evening event and tends to be scheduled to begin between 20:00 and 21:00. Its traditional route takes it down a street called Ramon Gallud, which is the main shopping street in Torrevieja, and, it travels past the main town square. The Town Hall square, being that it is stepped, can be a good place to stand as you can get a height advantage on other locations, however, everyone else thinks this too, so you may need to get your position nice and early so as not to be disappointed. If you prefer you can sit at the very edge of the parade on the chairs that line the street, but the town hall do charge approximately 4 euros for the privilege. Having said all that, things do change, so please keep an eye on this page for any updates on the information.

There is a great party atmosphere in the town and many sweets and other treats are thrown into the crowds. This evening is also known as the 12th night or Epifania del señor (epiphany) or Reyes Magos (Three Wise Men, Three Kings or Three Magicians). The tale of the birth of Jesus says that 3 wise men (Melchior, Casper and Balthazar) took gifts to Jesus, and in celebration of this event, the Spanish, traditionally, also give and receive presents. At the end of the procession the three wise men hand out gifts to the children. After the parade families go home to a celebration family meal.

Just as Santa brings the presents on Christmas Eve, the three wise men deliver presents to all the good boys and girls in Spain that night. To show the Three Kings (3 magicians) that they have been good, children polish their shoes till they shine and leave them outside for the Kings to see. They also leave food and drink for the three wise men and their camels, just as you would for Santa and the reindeer. On the 6th of January, the excited children open their presents and eat the sweets that the three wise men have left in their shoes. As you can see, the 5th and 6th of January follow a similar concept to the 24th and 25th of December which is why the British quaintly refer to this fiesta as 'the Spanish Christmas'. It is a national Fiesta on the 6th of January and one of the most important days on the Spanish calendar.

On New Years eve, at midnight, you will usually find a large crowd of people in the town hall square, in front of the large church. As the church bells strike 12 and the New Year beginnings there is a party atmosphere and the joining of a multitude of nationalities as everyone celebrates the same thing. The mood is buoyant with much hugging and kissing as another year starts. The Spanish 'good luck' tradition at New Year is to eat a grape on every strike of midnight. In the days running up to New Year look out in the local supermarkets for tins of seedless grapes, which makes it much easier than the fresh type that normally have pips!


National Fiestas

There's a list of the Spanish National Fiestas, and English translations or UK equivalent below.  In Spain, unlike the UK bank holidays, the whole nation takes the day off for a National Fiesta including supermarkets, banks and most cafes and bars. It makes no difference if the fiesta falls in the middle of the week either (which often they do). Some businesses take extra advantage of fiestas that fall on Tuesdays or Thursdays, as they choose to remain closed for the day before or day after (Monday or Friday). Also when two fiestas fall in the same week separated by 1 day, some businesses also close on the middle day to link them together - both of these scenarios are called 'puente' which literally translates to mean a 'bridge' day.

The dates below are for 2008