Spring 2004 trip to Spain
 

Trying to plan where to visit for a week long trip this spring. I want to base my trip around a holiday/festival.

Last year I visited Ubeda and Sevilla over Semana Santa. I'm extremely tempted to visit Sevilla again over Semana Santa as it was truly incredible. If so, would like to stay 3 nights in Sevilla and could visit at least one other city - Cadiz (never visited), Salamanca/Cordoba/Toledo (visited in '01), Cuenca (never visited), open to other suggestions.....

However, I'm wondering if I should experience another festival/holiday. I've read about Las Fallas in Valencia. Also, read of a city near Valencia they recreate the battle between Moors & Christians.

Am open to suggestions for anytime between mid-March through Mid-May.

Hi CathyM,
It's great to hear from you, and we really enjoyed spending the 2 days in Ubeda with you at the Parador last Holy Week.

If I had those dates free this year (I'd give anything to have another sabbatical!) , I'd actually go back to Sevilla to witness the first part of Holy Week then move to another part of Andalucía for the final weekend, perhaps Jerez or Cádiz, where the tourist crowds would be lighter and the processions more solemne, as they were in Ubeda. Cádiz and Jerez, which you've visited, are an easy bus or train trip from Sevilla, plus while in the sherry triange you could throw in the wildlife sanctuary, Coto Doñana, easily visited on the Real Fernando boat from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, plus El Puerto de Santa María,
which you can reach via boat, the "vaporcito", from Cádiz.
If you decide on Seville, then Cádiz and the other 2 towns of the sherry triange would be the logical extensions, since you've "done" Jerez.

I wouldn't go up as far as Toledo, and Salamanca/Segovia/Avila and environs merits its own week, as does Cuenca and the Serranía de Cuenca & Albarracín, I think.

The other option would be to do what Bob the Navigator did last Semana Santa. He spent the week witnessing the even more solemn, somber and moving processions in the Segovia-Avila-Salamanca-Zamora area. This could be another amazing Holy Week for you. And all cities can be visited by public transportation. In fact, when my next work vacation coincides with Holy Week, this is where I will head.

The Fallas in Valencia takes place before Holy Week, from March 12-19 and the Moros y Cristianos festival in Alcoy, Valencia province takes place afterwards, from April 22-24.

There's really nothing as moving as Holy Week in Spain, whether it be in Andalucía, Cuenca, Murcia or Castilla-León. It always gets my vote for a spring trip!

Maribel-
Thanks for the quick response. I was planning to treat my parents to a cruise in Jan/Feb but they just backed out. So after I promised myself I could wait to visit Spain next fall, I couldn't resist checking the airfares this a.m. and they are great! Now I need to make a quick decision so I can grab the airfare and get my hotels (especially if during Semana Santa).

I haven't been very active on the board since I got back from my trip to Spain/Portugal in October. My PC wasn't letting me post but now it's fixed.

I remembered that you visited some towns along the way from Toledo to Ubeda that had some interesting things happening during the week of Semana Santa - medieval costumes and such. However, I couldn't remember the names of the towns. This may be an option as I could combine these with Cuenca if it works out logistically.

Have you (or anyone) visited Alcoy for the Moors vs Christians? It does sound interesting, but Semana Santa is beckoning.....

Hi CathyM,
I haven't done the moros y cristianos in Alcoy yet.

Cuenca would also be really captivating during Holy Week. I have an uncle-in-law who is a priest there, and we went to visit on Maundy Thursday for las Turbas in the wee hrs. of the morning, which was quite the experience. The trouble, however, is that Cuenca, as we talked about, is on the road to no where and doesn't merit an entire week in the city. It's not a good place to base for day trips via public transportation, as I know you don't plan to rent a car.

From Toledo last year we travelled to the heart of La Mancha to Almagro where we saw the fascinating Palm Sunday processions with penitents dressed in military costume, but Almagro isn't near Cuenca and hard to access by public transport.

I'd actually stick with the Seville and points south plan, as that is very doable via public transportation.

Either that, or do a Segovia-Avila-Salamanca-Zamora-Valladolid trip by bus/train. Those processions of Castilla-León are more like Ubeda's in their piety/solemnity-very different from Seville and quite moving in their very somber tone. And Salamanca is always a great destination. For inexpensive lodging, I'd choose the new Salamanca Plaza, where Bob the Nav stayed. Much better than the Don Juan. But this would be a repeat for you too, since you've already done
Salamanca, Segovia, Avila and even León, right? But there's really something special about those provincial capitals of the heartland of Spain during Holy Week. And you could add Zamora or Valladolid.

Again, if you can choose your time in the spring, I'd choose Holy Week over any other dates, in a heartbeat.

Maribel-
You've confinced me!

I nabbed an airfare LA to Madrid for $560 and will visit during Semana Santa! I already emailed one of my Sevilla hotels and they still have (a few) rooms available. So, now I just have to figure out my itinerary and grab my hotel rooms. Flying back east today so will be doing my research on route!

I'm leaning towards Sevilla (again) because it is so special at this time, and perhaps your suggestion around Cadiz. Salamanca/Segovia/Avila sounds good too but I don't know if the weather would be a bit chillier than Andalucia in April and I do prefer the warmth!

Thanks again for all of your help!

CathyM,
Yeah! Lucky, lucky you!
Wish we were headed there this spring, but we're following yours and Maria's footsteps to Extremadura.

Hope you have a wonderful Semana Santa in Seville and environs!