8 Reasons Why You Need Andalusia this Spring

Choosing an early season bicycle vacation after a long, cold winter can be a daunting task. You may not be feeling up to your best physical form. Besides, the thought of taking a vacation when you’re in full work-mode seems like a distant memory, right?

But when you’re looking at the best trip to choose this season, there are several reasons Andalusia in the Spring makes an epic vacation. Luckily, Ciclismo Classico has a departure at the beginning of April. And you’d be silly to not be a part of it.

Hopefully you’ve been following our tips to get you on the bike this spring.  If you haven’t, you may be a bit unsure about an early season trip. If you feel like work has gotten the better of you this January, read on, and discover how choosing Andalusia in the Spring can be one of the best decisions you make this year:

1) Local Festivals and Celebrations of Semana Santa

Experiencing Semana Santa – or Holy Week – in Andalucia is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Imagine the scent of flowering orange blossoms mixed with lightly burning incense of the parade floats. The elaborate yet provocative costumes collide with a sense of the sacred and profound.

Cordoba has decorative festivities. The confraternities unite in solemn processions invoking the mysteries of the Passion, death and resurrection of Christ. Penitents and devotees willingly follow the ceremony through the narrow streets of the medieval village. These celebrations are a direct result of the 16th C. Counter-Reformation and every year they get more elaborate. Several thousands of visitors attend this tradition, which happens only once a year.

But many Andalusian festivals are more than religiously themed.

The Feria de Sevilla (Abril) is an annual festival in Andalucia’s capital. Intricately decorated tents line the Guadalquivir river. In each of these tents the local families play games, drink manzanilla and dance for seven days. It is also a major bullfighting fair with some spectacular performances by some of the region’s most celebrated bullfighters. The old horse-drawn wagons, traditional costumes and general decor from the mid-1800’s create a nostalgic atmosphere of old Spain.

Typically held two weeks after the Semana Santa, The Feria de Sevilla is a perfect springtime festival to enjoy with the Andalusian People.

2) Pleasant Temperature and Cooler Nights

Given its geographical location near the edge of southern Europe, Andalucia gets hot in summer. Boiling. On regular days, temperatures can reach over a hundred degrees by 10 am.

In spring, we don’t have that problem. The weather is cool and sunny.

April and May are great months to take advantage of the pleasant conditions and cooler nights. For any bicycle activities, this is the perfect time of the year to travel. The daytime weather is warm enough to enjoy a bike ride, and the evening allows us to cool off during the sun sets. It is also the perfect time to enjoy out-of-season beach activities on far less-crowed playas. Which brings us to number 3….

3) Fewer Visitors

Although these festivals draw a significant number of crowds, the countryside is quiet and still.

Andalucia sees fewer visitors in the non-summer months. You can imagine the number of north-Europeans flocking to the warm southern beaches near Malaga. That doesn’t happen in April.

Sure: some culture seekers will show up in the bigger cites to witness the flower parades and religious festivities. But outside of town, fewer visitors means fewer cars on the road. And that’s a great thing when you are traveling from Cordoba to Antequera by bike.

4) Azahar

There is little as invigorating as the bouquets of the small budding orange blossoms – or azahar –  as you bike through the Andalusian countryside. This flower typically opens by the end of March. Yet April is a brilliant month to get the most of its fragrance permeating the country air. Yet the tree not only grows in the countryside but also around every plaza and square in the village centers.

This aroma comes from all the white, budding citrus tree blossoms (including lemon, orange and citron). The name comes from the ancient Arabic az-zahr (meaning “flowers”) and has many therapeutic benefits.

Locals infuse the flower and its essential oils in teas which have a substantial calming effect on the system. They are also used to eliminate fainting. Legend says the azahar also contains aphrodisiac qualities.

Maybe that’s the reason people fall in love with our Andalusian Adventure.

5) Bullfights

On the national stage, bullfighting has gotten mixed reviews. But in Spain – especially in Andalucia – bullfighting is as strong as it has always been. And spring is a great time to catch a fight.

Fighting wild beats and the symbolism of the bull are as old as humanity. However, the bullfighting we know today started in the early 17^th C in the city streets and plazas of small Andalusian towns. Ronda has the oldest arena in Spain, where bullfighters stood on the ground for the first time (instead of fighting the bulls from horseback); Seville has one of the biggest and most important rings in Spain. Cordoba, Jarez and many of the smaller towns in the Malaga province also have strong, bullfighting traditions.

Bullfighting season begins with the Easter Sunday fight, in the Real Maestranza de Caballeria in Seville. But unlike most of the other Spanish regions, the Andalusians take their bullfighting very seriously. While Spaniards in the north may party in the stands with their backs to the matador, active spectators sell out the arenas of Ronda, Cordoba and Sevilla. And they follow the victories of their favorite toreador all season long.

6) Jerez Feria del Caballo

Horse afficionados love the Jerez Feria del Caballo which focuses on the Andalusian horse breed. Enthusiasts consider this purebred one of the most antique in the world. Even the ancient Romans prized these stallions for their excellent athleticism, to be exhibited in the Circo Romano.

The Horse Festival in Jerez is happiness, excitement and pure-bred bliss. The celebration displays the nobility of this internationally famous animal.  The fair maintains its ancient origins (1284) yet has expanded with competitions and equestrian fanfare. Small tents decorated in the old Spanish style, smartly decorated with garlands and spring flowers, set a regal scene for these powerful and beautiful animals.

But it’s not only the horses visitors come to see. No party would be complete without fine wine, local cuisine and plenty of Flamenco dancers. And if you know little about flamenco, you should probably read more about it.

7) Get a Jump on Your Seasonal Training

We’ve mentioned before how to get ready for our spring series of bicycle trips. But one major advantage to traveling to southern Spain in the springtime is returning home in beast mode.

Do you have a local club at home? You’ll return in May lean and mean…and tan!

Biking over the Andalusian countryside will start your season off right and will jumpstart those New Year’s resolutions. During the rest of the year, you’ll dream of rolling over the Sierra de las Nieves, or riding up to our Parador in Antequera. You’ll have such fond memories once you’re home that you’ll want to come back to Spain and do it all over again!

8) Discounts

There is a lot to love about Andalucia. But when the office offers discounts you should start planning seriously about your trip.

Yup, you read that right! Ciclismo Classico is giving discounts on its April departure of Andalucia. You can get $750 off per person if you sign up before the end of January.  That’s a great discount on a trip packed with value.

And here’s another deal: if you mention my name and tell them you read this blog post, the office will give you another $300 off the list price.

So, that’s a total of $1,050 off the catalog price. That’s a fantastic price for a trip at the crossroads of culture.

What are you waiting for? Contact our offices and let them know you’re good to go!

¡Vamanos muchachos!