The Feria de Abril (April Fair) in Sevilla, Spain originated in the 19th Century as a livestock exhibition. It has morphed into a celebration of all things Sevilla. There's a large fairground, which is lined with casetas (little houses) where all of Sevilla society gathers for a week to drink sherry, eat tapas, and celebrate being from Sevilla.
Every day, the streets of the fairground feature parades of carriages, with horses decked out in silver and floral finery. And all Sevillian women wear their flamencas, the traditional dress of their Andalusian heritage. The fair is really for Sevillanos. Tourists are allowed into the fairgrounds, but all the casetas, except for a very few open to the public, are private. You can only get into a private one by invitation, which, if you ask me, is a very good reason to make friends with someone from Sevilla.
The Feria de Abril is also the start of the bullfight season. These girls were in the president's box at the bull ring, an honor reserved for the daughters of the local big shots. Beware though, if you go to the Feria de Abril, the Fair itself is mostly a closed affair.
Nevertheless, if you are adventurous, go to the bullfights. Like Pamplona near the end of the season, this is the real deal. The ring will be full, the seats are very expensive, but I maintain, political correctness aside, that you have to go to at least one bull fight if you hope to understand Spain.
See our post on the Great Cultural Festivals of Spain.
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