San Isidro - Party in Madrid

If you want to experience the most quintessential of Spanish traditions then head for Madrid during its San Isidro festival, or fiesta de San Isidro.

Not only is this the world’s most important bullfighting festival, marking the start of the bullfighting season in Madrid, it is also an excuse for flamboyant Spanish fiesta in the form of music, dancing, fairs and what is known as the romeria, or pilgrimage, to the shrine of Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro.

It is historically a religious celebration of the generosity of San Isidro, a poor farmer who gave food to the poor, but today food is in ample supply and forms an important part of festivities, from the street-side organ-grinders selling traditional sweet snacks to the ceremonial cooking of a huge Cocido Madrileño (Madrid’s speciality dish, a traditional chickpea-based stew with meat and potatoes) on the last day of the festival.

Celebrations for San Isidro often start a few days in advance, kicked off by the Mayor’s speech, but it is on the day itself, 15th May, that the locals, or Madrileños, go all out with their traditional dress – flat cap, waistcoat and neckerchief for the men, long dress, headscarf and shawl for the women – and head to the magnificent Plaza Mayor for traditional dancing and open-air concerts.

Throughout the capital there are varied events over the course of the week around San Isidro, notably the much-anticipated bullfights in Las Ventas bullring, rock concerts in the Casa de Campo, and open-air dancing in Vistillas Park.

Book tickets to specific events in advance, or just turn up and soak up the exhilarating atmosphere – this is a chance to experience Spain’s capital in all its glory, a perfect add-on to a trip to Europe.

Get into the swing of things with our Top 10 cheeky Spanish chat-up lines. If you are interested in learning Spanish, sign up for one of Cactus’ many Spanish classes in the US and Canada: Boston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver.

Or combine learning Spanish with a fun-filled trip to Madrid and learn Spanish in Spain!

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