Castilla y Leon Tourist Guide

Traditional festivities and avant-garde festivals

celebrating and enjoying today. Grape harvest festivals, bullfighting, processions and parades, carnivals and masked balls, medieval jousting, music and dancing to the sounds of the reed instrument known as the 'dulzaina', drums and other traditional modern musical instruments are held throughout the region. FESTIVALS Castilla y León has managed to conserve the finest traditions of its popular festivals, whilst at the same time creating new events and celebrations that fill the region with energy, modernity and an explosion of colour. Indeed, each year Castilla y León plays host to major events based on a diversity of themes ranging from the dramatic arts to classic, modern and jazz music, as well as film, dance, theatre, puppets and magic. Many of these festivals are now firmly consolidated and boast an international reputation.

Castilla y León celebrates almost a hundred festivals declared to be of regional, national and international tourist interest. HOLY WEEK This is a time of myriad ceremonies and rituals. The air is filled with the aroma of wood, palm leaves, branches and candle wax. The atmosphere is sombre, silent and the fervent religious sentiment can be sensed as the processions pass by. Holy Week in Castilla y León is one of the most deeply-rooted religious, cultural and popular attractions, drawing large numbers of tourists. Castilla y Léon has more Holy Week celebrations declared to be of international tourist interest than any other region in Spain. They are held in Ávila, León, Medina del Campo, Medina de Rioseco, Palencia, Salamanca, Valladolid and Zamora. POPULAR FESTIVITIES Traditions and customs from the past, yet which are also well worth

HOLY WEEK TRADITIONS Holy Week in Castilla y León shows visitors and locals alike the region’s most deeply rooted customs and fervent devotion, inviting everyone to experience this very special time of year, discovering the towns and villages from a different perspective, whilst at the same time enjoying the local gastronomy and many tourist attractions.

27

CASTILLA Y LEÓN. THE REAL LIFE

Descent of the Angel, during the Holy Week celebrations in Peñafiel, Valladolid.

Holy Week in Segovia