April in Spain: A Detective Mystery (Quirke, 8)

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The government in Spain sets the Spanish national holidays each year, although Spanish bank holidays differ between each of the regions. While each city observes the national holidays in Spain, regional holidays are set by the local governments. Eating practices in Spain usually happen quite late in the day. Lunch is eaten at around 2 pm, and dinner can be eaten as late as 9 pm. Making up the centre of the fair are a series of individually decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground – this gives the celebrations a boundless sense of colour and festivity. Visiting Barcelona in April is considered one of the best times of the year to see this magical city. The high heat of summer hasn’t quite arrived, but Barcelona rarely sees rainfall during this time – the perfect recipe for exploring the city.

Spanish isn’t the only language spoken in Spain. Catalan is the primary language in Catalonia, Basque is spoken in the northern Basque region and Galician is used in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Other festivals during March include the Sant Medir festival in Barcelona, where horse-drawn carriages filled with Spaniards throw treats to the people in the Garcia neighborhood. There’s also Semana Santa , the most Holy Week of the year. It’s a massive religious celebration throughout Spain during Easter, and can last for more than a week! April – Prime Time for Adventure Activities If you’re looking for a little bit of active fun, June is also the best time to head to Tarifa for some kite-surfing . The wind is stellar and the waters aren’t too crowded yet, so it’s the perfect time to learn! July – Peak Season Arrives September (Monday): Day of Catalonia ( Fiesta Nacional de Catalunya) – marks the anniversary of the recapture of Barcelona in 1714

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Take a tour around Andalusia to visit local villages, or head to Ronda, a stunning town made famous by Hemmingway’s description as the “most romantic town in Spain.” November is the best time to spend your time wandering around in the crisp, cool weather before the winter chill really hits. The weather starts to cool off and the cities begin to empty, so October is the perfect time to visit Spain if you can’t stand the heat or the crowds of summer. The end of peak season, and officially the end of summer, but Spain remains hot pretty much through the end of the month. However, it’s certainly more bearable than July and August, making September a lovely time to visit when the busiest time of the year is winding down. October (Sunday): Day of Valencia – a historical commemoration of the date in 1238 when King James I officially entered the city of Valencia and freed it from Moorish rule Bank holidays in Spain that fall on weekends are sometimes replaced with alternate days (usually on the following Monday) if the regional government so chooses. More recently, however, alternate days have not always been given.

That said, just because it’s peak season doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find some peace and quiet while you travel through Spain. Tons of locals leave the country during the summer to escape the Spanish heat (and tourists), or head to the coastal beaches to cool off. Seville's version of Easter during Semana Santa is perhaps the most lavish in the country, with magnificent floats parading through the city in daily processionals and awe-inspiring performances. Events culminate with Easter Sunday processionals to the city's central cathedral and an Easter Mass. The event is deeply religious, but since it takes over the entire city, virtually everyone is involved. If you're in Seville during this time, you won't be able to miss it. January (Monday): New Year Holiday – Andalusia, Aragón, Asturias, Castile and Leon, Melilla, and Murcia One of the most beautiful months to visit Spain, the weather in May is simply superb. You’ll have warm and clear, sunny days with cooler evenings, perfect for city strolls of walks along the beach.April (Monday): Easter Monday ( Lunes de Pascua) – Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Catalonia, La Rioja, Navarre, and Valencia The weather in Spain is generally pretty mild all-year long, besides the summer when it gets hot, hot, hot. Visitors to the Costa del Sol capitalwill definitely want to put the Museo Picasso Malaga, a museum dedicated to the works of hometown hero Pablo Picasso, on the itinerary. There are more than 200 of the prolific painter's works in its permanent collection, including paintings of his children and family.