Sevilla Urbany Blog

From the 28th April until the 3rd May

A basic definition of the April Fair would be: a big amount of tents and fairground attractions located near Los Remedios quarter... But the April fair is more than that: it is the big party in Seville; it is the Festival in capital letters. The Sevilla April Fair is happiness, colour, dancing, music, orange blossom, flavour, passion... it is Seville itself in the most important local festival in the city!

What to do during the April Fair

During this week, Seville is empty of people due to the Fair, so it is the perfect time to visit it without large crowds or queueing.

As I said before, the fairground is located in the outskirts of Seville. In fact, it is a little bit far away from everywhere, but you can walk from our hostel if you like. It is a nice 30-40 minutes walk, crossing Santa Cruz quarter, Murillo’s Gardens and Maria Luisa Park.

You must visit the Fair at day time to see the atmosphere in the different streets of the fairground. Horses, carriages, people in the typical costume (“flamenca dress or corto suit”)… Everything is very colourful. You must visit also the Fair at night time, to enjoy the magnificent lightning.

Going inside the tents is almost a mission impossible, because they are mostly private. It becomes easier if you are wearing the typical dress for men or women, although you can also go in if you ask the doormen to enter with good humour and education. You will not find any problems to go into public tents, which are usually bigger. Nevertheless, we recommend you to visit the private ones that are more traditional, more authentic.

The surroundings of La Maestranza, the bullring, gather a large number of people about 17:30 everyday and there is a very good atmosphere. You could even see some famous people. Very recommendable!

El “Alumbrao”: On Monday at midnight the lightning on the fairground is on. Thus, the April Fair is officially inaugurated. The number of light bulbs lightening the Fair goes up to 3.500.000 approximately. Most of them are covered by typical Chinese lanterns in different colours (above all, white, red and green). These lanterns give the Fair a special charm and luminosity. People go to the fairground to see this particular moment.

La Portada: It is a big monumental door; the main entrance to the fairground. The first one was built in 1949 and up to now, every year it is dedicated to some important event, monument or building in Seville. It has reached up to 50 metres high. It is very beautiful to see “La Portada” anytime, but at night it is such a spectacle. As an interesting fact, I would say that “la Portada” becomes the meeting point for many people, which makes it very difficult to find relatives or friends, due to the large number of people standing there. Besides “la Portada” there is an information desk where you can find maps and all the information you may need.

The Tents: What we know now as tents were cattle sheds in the beginning. Cattle were sold in them. In the course of time, their use and appearance were changing until they have become the tents that we see nowadays. They consist of a structure made up of iron tubes covered by colourful striped canvas (green and white or red and white). At the top of every tent, it reads the name of it. Every tent is carefully decorated in order to get the first place in the tents competition. An ordinary tent is divided into two parts: in the first one, there is a “Flamenco Tablao” (a small wooden place for dancing) surrounded by tables. In the other part, there is a bar to eat and drink and the toilets. These days, there are 1050 tents which become like home for Sevillians during the week. There is a festive atmosphere inside them: food, drink, laughs, reunions and above all, singing and dancing.

Gipsy/Flamenca dress: Besides of being the typical costume in Seville, they are at the same time, an image of Andalusia in Spain and abroad. Originally, they looked very different as they are now. They used to be usual clothes for women to work more comfortably in the country. In the course of time, the skirt was added some flounces and they became trendy. In fact, it is the only typical dress that changes depending on fashion, almost every year in Seville. There is a “Flamenco Fashion International Hall”, held every year in Seville. This dress is, or it was, a very comfortable costume which enhances women’s figure, giving them a touch of sensuality. Fair’s dress can be worn by women of all ages, all races, all sizes and social classes. The accessories which usually go with the dress are flowers, necklaces, earrings and embroidered silk shawls. Women can wear their hair up or down.

“Corto suit”: They are the clothes that horsemen and horsewomen wear. This suit is also worn together with a wide-brimmed hat. Long time ago, Sevillian tailors imposed some rules when making a “corto suit”: they have to be made of a dark plain or patterned fabric, and the hat must go with the trousers and the other accessories. It is forbidden to wear ties, scarves, swatches, sunglasses, sherry glasses, medals, chaps or spurs.

“Sevillanas”: It is the Fair’s typical dance and tune. We have to look for their origin in the Catholic Kings’ epoch, in one dance called “Castillian Seguidillas”. In the course of time, they developed into the dancing and singing that we know nowadays. The way of singing and dancing “sevillanas” is very diverse. Thus, in singing we find many different themes, for instance, regional subjects (Easter, The Fair, famous people, bullfighting…), love, El Rocio pilgrimage, ”corraleras”… “Sevillanas” dancing are divided into four parts and they have fixed steps. The pace can be very quick or very slow. They are usually danced by two people, although they can be danced by more people. Almost everybody dance “Sevillanas” but this does not mean that they know what the steps are. Drinking wine makes everybody enthusiastic about taking people out to dance!

Carriages: This is the only means of transport allowed in the fairground (except fire engines, ambulances and police cars). You could see them in the streets, in the city and in the fairground, and they count themselves between the most beautiful in Spain. Drivers are dressed up and horses are embellished with tassels and small bells. There is an official tour that you can not miss out everyday at noon. Some days before the Fair, the “Horse Hitch Exhibition” takes place in La Maestranza bullring, in which you can see two/four/eight/horse hitches from all times, belonging to Andalusian aristocracy or bourgeoisie. Horses and carriages are obliged to leave the fairground at eight in the evening and due to the large number of them, their access is limited depending on the plate number, if they are odds or evens.

Bullfights: Since it was a cattle market in origin, bullfights take place in La Maestranza bullring, during the week. The best bullfighters and the best bull farmings congregate here every year. Bullfights start with a “pasodoble” at 18:30. While this song called “Plaza de la Maestranza” is sounding, the bullfighters walk around the bullring, what is called “hacer el paseíllo”. Many people go from the fairground to the bullring on a carriage and it is very common to see famous people from Seville, Andalusia or Spain. Every bullfighter dreams of fighting a bull in La Maestranza, since it is considered the most important bullring in the World, according to history. If a bullfighter does it very well, he receives a bull’s ear as a prize, and if he gets three, he will be carried out of the bullring on somebody’s shoulders and the Prince door will be opened for him to go out.

Hell Street: It is the street where all the fairground attractions are located (usually, there are 500 approximately).This is the street where all tombolas, circuses, shooting galleries, fast food stands and shops selling churros are as well.

Manzanilla, Vino Fino and Rebujito: Manzanilla and vino fino are white dry Sherries typical in Andalusia. Vino fino is made in Jerez de la Frontera and Manzanilla is made in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (both of them are villages located in Cádiz). People drink large amounts of them during the fair and usually eat prawns, Spanish ham, cheese, chorizo and other sausages, fried fish, Spanish omelette or some stew.
In the recent years, it has become trendy to drink “rebujito”, which are Manzanilla mixed with Sprite or Seven Up and a lot of ice. There are two good reasons for drinking “rebujito”. First, it is fresher than wine. Second, the wine becomes softer when mixing with Sprite and ice. It is better to drink less alcohol, because the Fair lasts many days… Of course, these are not the only drinks you can ask for in tents. You will also find available any kind of drink, like in any other bar.

2008 April Fair day by day

• Monday: This day tent members have dinner together in the tent. This is their particular way of inaugurating the Fair. The usual dish for that day is fried fish. That is why this event is known as “fish dinner”. The official beginning will be at midnight when Seville’s Mayor gives permission to light the fairground illumination.

• Tuesday: It is common to organise an informal lunch with workmates or official receptions with companies. Lightning will last until three o’clock in the morning this day.

• Wednesday: This is Fair’s middle day. Lights will be on until four o’clock at night.
  
  
• Thursday: This day the Fair begins to be crowded, not only because of the large number of people who visit it, but also the number of horses and carriages gets bigger. Lights will be on until five o’clock in the morning.
  
  
• Friday: This day, the Fair bursts with people. Many of them are famous people. I am not exaggerating if I say that even one million people may be inside the fairground at the same time.
  
  
• Saturday: This is also a busy day. People from Seville use to go out for the weekend or they just stay home relaxing. This way, there is more space for other visitors and foreigners. Lights will be on until six in the morning.
  
  
• Sunday: It is the last day. “La Maestranza” is full to bursting. This day, bulls from the farming called “Miura” are fought. These bulls are very famous because of their big size. At midnight, The April Fair comes to an end with fireworks near the river.
  

Our hostel is located downtown in a privileged place of Seville. It is perfect for enjoying the city since it is located very near Seville main attractions. The April Fair is not downtown, so you will have to go to the fairground. You can walk (30-40 minutes) or you can go by taxi or bus.

We will take care of making your stay much more pleasant and we will give you all the information you need. All of us know the city very well. Don’t miss the opportunity of making your trip to Seville an unforgettable experience!