April 17, 2007

Europe | Spain | Seville

Seville Puts Some Spring into its Step

By Mark Jolly

The party starts at midnight. Can you handle it?

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According to the poet, Lord Byron, “Seville is a pleasant city, famous for oranges and women.” And also for its legendary springtime fiesta, the Feria de Abril. What started as a cattle trading fair in 1847 is now a six-day celebration of flamenco, sherry, bullfighting and all things equestrian. With Seville being the home of flamenco and the capital of Andalusia, you can expect to see the dancing at its highest level. And this being Spain, you can expect to see it late. The festivities start at midnight on April 24, and the heat of the action centers around a makeshift town of casetas – candy-striped tents decorated with thousands of paper lanterns. Women wear electric-colored flamenco dresses and the dancing winds up around breakfast time. If you do find time to lay your head, you’ll want to do so at Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, an 18th century palace transformed (with a rooftop pool) by Spain’s chicest boutique mini-chain, Hospes.