Experience St. John Bonfires in Spain 8D

Spain has tourist attractions of all kinds and for all tastes: cities, monuments, towns, natural spaces, islands, museums... And in addition to a lot of variety, a lot of quantity. The places worth visiting in Spain are countless. It has it all: unparalleled gastronomy, an amazing contrast of landscapes, an enormous historical legacy... The wealth of Spain is indisputable. Between a coastline of more than 8,000 kilometers that boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the spectacular and diverse inland landscapes, Spain has no shortage of natural options to escape to this summer. To this sample we must add the creativity of the civilizations that have passed through here and the legacy of current culture, a heritage that permeates the most beautiful towns in Spain and that has made this country one of the countries with the most Heritage Humanity treasures.

 Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Spain. Has it all! culture, viewpoints, sea, good weather, good gastronomy, that is why it is another of the cities that disputes the title of the most beautiful city in Spain. Gaudí's wonderful works, such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, La Pedrera or Casa Batlló, are some of the main monuments to see in Barcelona that turn it into an open-air museum. You can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city from Montjuic or from Tibidabo, the oldest amusement park in Spain, stroll along its lively ramblas, eat at the Boquería Market, tour the Gothic Quarter to visit the Cathedral of Santa Cruz and Santa Eulalia and some squares full of charm, sunbathe on Barceloneta beach, watch a sunset from the bunkers of El Carmel, take a tour of the most touristy neighborhoods of Barcelona or enjoy its lively nightlife and its restaurants in Born.

 Alicante celebrates the arrival of summer with the bonfires of San Juan. In a spectacular display of music, colour and fireworks, thousands of people throng the streets to experience this fiesta which pays tribute to fire. To celebrate the arrival of summer, Alicante residents traditionally went to dinner in the countryside on June 23: they ate traditional food, and when midnight arrived, they lit bonfires, danced around them, launched rockets and swam in the sea. This custom endured over the years, and in 1928 the fiestas of the Bonfires of San Juan were formally constituted. For several days, Alicante celebrates this great tribute to fire, in which the main protagonists are authentic works of ephemeral art: the hogueras, the enormous cardboard and wooden figures that are burned on the night of San Juan. The queen of the party, known as the bellea del foc (the Beauty of the Fire), is chosen in May from among the candidates presented by a committee in each neighbourhood. The festivities officially begin with the plantà, or building, of enormous bonfires with their tongue-in-cheek cardboard figures which fill the streets of Alicante with wit and good humour. That day, the barracas or large tents are also put up to serve as a public dance floor, and these are where fiesta-goers can sample the typical figs and cocas (a kind of pastry with tuna, onions and pine nuts). Among the most representative acts of the festival are the Entrance of Bands and Commissions, with their respective “beauties” and bridesmaids dressed in traditional costumes; the floral offering to the city's patron saint, the Virgen del Remedio, on June 21 and 22; and the international folk parade, a colorful parade in which dance groups from all over the world participate. Also, every day at two in the afternoon from June 19 to 24, fireworks shows are held in the Plaza de los Luceros: They are the noisy “mascletàs”, which should be attended with earplugs, given the noise caused by gunpowder and rockets. Finally, at midnight on the night of 24 to 25 June comes the cremà (burning), the high point of the fiestas. After a spectacular white palm tree of fireworks, the bonfires all over the city are set alight and blaze away amid much merriment and dancing and singing, while fire-fighters shower the merrymakers with water in what is known as thebanyá. However, the party is not over yet. From 25 to 29 June, there is a fireworks competition on El Postiguet beach, and the historic centre of the town comes alive with a medieval market and a range of shows.

 Madrid, cheerful and vibrant at all hours, is famous for being an open city with all kinds of people from anywhere in the world.

In addition to its famous museums, busy streets dotted with all kinds of shops, restaurants with world cuisine and unbeatable nightlife, Madrid will surprise you with its tranquil historic spots that charm everyone walking by. Here you'll find traditional family-run, century-old bars where friends meet up for a drink, every style of neighbourhood and cultural centres that offer up an alternative type of tourism. Madrid's authenticity is hard to beat. It is welcoming and diverse. Madrid is, without a doubt, one of Europe’s most interesting cities.

Anyone in search of culture will find some of the most important museums in the world, such as the Prado, Reina Sofía or Thyssen. But we must not forget smaller options, full of charm, such as the Sorolla Museum or cultural centres like the Matadero or Conde Duque, which are continuously offering innovative exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, etc. Walking around Madrid means coming across iconic spots such as the stunning Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor with 400 years of history, the buzzing Puerta del Sol, the famous Gran Vía full of shops, or the four tallest towers in Spain. Each neighbourhood offers a different experience: La Latina is ideal for tapas, Las Letras has the perfect combination of literature and fine dining… But Madrid also means relaxing in enormous green spaces such as the Retiro Park (which together with the Paseo del Prado boulevard have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List), and other lesser-known but equally charming parks like El Capricho.

When it's time to eat, Madrid has many different options, each more appealing than the last. On the one hand, traditional bars where you can discover exactly what castizo means and why tapas are so much fun. On the other hand, there are its cutting-edge restaurants like DiverXO and traditional markets that have been turned into new gourmet spaces, such as San Miguel, which has become a true gastronomic shrine. In Madrid, the time is always ripe to enjoy an animated, urban atmosphere. For example, the increasingly famous weekend brunches in enclosed glass terraces, courtyards, rooftops, etc. Fashionistas will find all options: luxury shops on the Golden Mile, vintage establishments in areas such as Fuencarral, new designer markets like the Mercado de Motores, and craft workshops and bookshops over 100 years old. At dusk, some of the city’s viewpoints will surprise you with unique sunsets, at the Temple of Debod or the rooftop bar of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, for example. And at the end of the day... nightlife in Madrid is legendary with live music, all kinds of ambiences, music until the sun comes up...

Madrid has its own beauty. Madrid stimulates and inspires. Madrid. You have to experience it.