Spanish Immigration or students living in Spain, April in Spain offers many new delights, so come and experience the beauty of this wonderful country! Let’s take a look at April in Spain together!
1. Valencia Fallas Museum: A Showcase of Fallas Masterpieces
If you missed the Fallas Festival held in Valencia in March, be sure to visit the Fallas Museum! Every year, the festival selects the best Fallas models from thousands, preserving them while others are burned to ashes during the celebration. The Fallas Museum is not far from the City of Arts and Sciences and houses the finest Fallas models and posters from past years.
2. Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, located in the Lleida region of Catalonia, is nestled in the Pyrenees and is renowned for its picturesque mountain scenery. The park features around 150 clear lakes of various sizes, interspersed with waterfalls and streams hidden within tranquil forests. It is a year-round destination, especially enchanting in late spring and early summer when the valleys are adorned with blooming pink rhododendrons.
3. Murcia: The Unique Burial of Sardines
This interesting celebration held in Murcia is part of the local Spring Festival. In Spain, the burial of sardines typically occurs at the end of Carnival, but in Murcia, it takes place on the weekend following Holy Week, this year from April 9 to April 11. The celebration dates back to 1850 when a group of students decided to fast, using sardines as a symbol of abstinence.
On the eve of the sardine burial parade, the oath of the Sardine Queen is read from the balcony of the town hall, mixed with satire on current political and social phenomena. The grand parade the next day consists of two parts: the first features costumed characters, theater groups, and dance troupes; the second part includes floats. The entire procession moves along with the sardine statue until it reaches the designated location, where it is burned during a fireworks display, and the festivities continue until dawn.
4. Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum in Madrid: Exhibition of Contemporary Art Masters
Until September 14, 2015, the Reina Sofía National Art Center in Madrid will host a special exhibition titled "White Fire: Modern Collection from the Basel Art Museum," showcasing over 100 works by 20th-century masters from the Basel Art Museum, considered one of the world's premier public municipal museums. Taking advantage of the museum's expansion, the Reina Sofía will exhibit works by contemporary masters such as Edvard Munch, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Paul Klee, Piet Mondrian, Max Ernst, Nolde, Wassily Kandinsky, Hans Arp, and Alberto Giacometti.
5. Cervantes Prize: A Celebration of Spanish Literature
April 23 marks the anniversary of the deaths of the famous Spanish writer Cervantes and the renowned British writer Shakespeare. In 1995, UNESCO declared April 23 as "World Book Day." The literary giant Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage city near Madrid. In April, Alcalá will host the Abril de Cervantes event, culminating in the award ceremony for the Cervantes Prize on International Book Day, April 23. The Cervantes Prize (Premio de Cervantes) is regarded as the Nobel Prize of the Spanish-speaking world, awarded annually to writers from Spain and Latin America who have made outstanding contributions to Spanish literature, representing the highest honor in the Spanish literary community. The award is announced in December and presented by the King of Spain at the Paraninfo Hall of Alcalá University on April 23 in Cervantes' hometown, typically awarded to a Spanish writer one year and a Latin American writer the next.
6. Saint George's Day: Spain's Valentine's Day
April 23 is also Saint George's Day (Sant Jordi) in the Catalonia and Aragon regions, a traditional local Valentine's Day. According to custom, men typically give roses to their girlfriends or wives, while women reciprocate with books; thus, the streets are filled with stalls selling flowers and books on this day.
7. Calvià, Mallorca: An Ideal Vacation Destination
Calvià, located at the foot of the Tramuntana Mountains on the island of Mallorca, is adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea. The coastline stretches over fifty kilometers, featuring cliffs, bays, beaches, and small islands. In addition to enjoying the stunning coastal scenery, prehistoric sites, local noble residences, defensive towers, and ancient mills constitute its main cultural heritage, catering to various tourist preferences.
For sports enthusiasts, this is also an ideal vacation destination. There are five golf courses around Calvià, allowing golf lovers to choose their preferred course for practice. Water sports enthusiasts can showcase their skills at Palmanova, Magaluf, and Santa Ponsa beaches.
8. Pompidou Center in Málaga: A Renowned French Art Center in Málaga
Following the establishment of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the city government of Málaga partnered with the Pompidou Center in Paris, opening the Pompidou Center in Málaga on March 28, 2015, at the city's harbor. If the Louvre in Paris is a treasure trove of classical European art, and the Musée d'Orsay houses outstanding paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography from 1848 to 1914, then the Pompidou Center is a pilgrimage site for contemporary avant-garde art enthusiasts. As the birthplace of the artistic master Pablo Picasso, the establishment of the Pompidou Center further enhances the contemporary art atmosphere of Málaga, becoming another highlight in the city alongside the Picasso Museum.
9. Seville: The April Fair
The Feria de Abril in Seville will take place from April 21 to April 26 this year. The Spanish name for "April Fair" translates directly to "April Market," originally established in 1847 as an annual livestock exchange market. During this time, people would gather in the Triana district across the Guadalquivir River to buy and sell livestock. As time progressed, the market gradually faded away, evolving into a large gathering for chatting, dancing, and drinking; during the April Fair, thousands of tents are set up in this area, where locals dress in traditional colorful dresses, dancing the Sevillana and enjoying fine sherry.
10. Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau: A Healing Hospital
The Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, located in Barcelona, is a masterpiece of modernist architecture designed by the renowned architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who was contemporaneous with Gaudí. In 1905, a Catalan banker named Pau Gil donated a substantial sum to Barcelona to build a new hospital that was both aesthetically pleasing and hygienic, ensuring better treatment for patients. Domènech took Pau's requests into full consideration when designing the hospital, planning to construct 48 pavilions, each uniquely styled, with beautiful exteriors, vibrant colors, and ample green spaces and light inside. The pavilions adorned with colorful mosaics and the charming or mysterious towers and spires are worth seeing. The building features the initials "G" and "P," representing the donor Pau Gil's name. The entrance hall boasts a dome covered with light pink ceramic tiles, with columns engraved with floral patterns and large pieces of stained glass that shimmer, casting rainbow-like rippling light, creating an ethereal sense of beauty. The hospital was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.