Spanish
Courses during the Seville Feria de Abril (April Fair).
Seville’s Feria de Abril (April Fair) is
one of the city’s greatest cultural events which brings
together a great many visitors from all over the world. For one
week it becomes the center of life for Seville inhabitants and
visitors alike.
Study Spanish and enjoy the
Feria at the same time. Many students from all over the world
want to learn Spanish in Seville and experience a traditional
Spanish Festival. The timetable and content of our school’s
courses are completely compatible with this unique festival, so
you can enjoy both at the same time.
A bit of history
Seville’s Feria de Abril (April Fair) began
in 1847 as a livestock fair. It was located in the Prado de San
Sebastián and was comprised of 19 casetas (tent-like ‘houses’).
Due to its great success with the public, in
1950, it completely severed its connections with the original
agricultural market. From the 20s it has had its present configuration.
It is like an artificial city, on whose streets casetas are placed.
Since 1973, la Feria has been situated in Los Remedios quarter.
The origen of the present-day casetas goes back
to 1849 when the Seville City Council put up something similar
to a tent, to keep order on the fairgrounds. Curiously enough,
this "caseta", despite its purpose, became known for
its festive atmosphere.
In 1850 the first stands appeared, selling turrones
(fudge), buñuelos (fritters), toys etc.
A Feria de Abril caseta has two well-defined
spaces:
- The front, decorated part, that which we can
see from the street and where you share side by side with other
members of the caseta, where you dance, sing and usually place
the tables to enjoy fino or Manzanilla (dry sherry), although
recently another drink is becoming popular: "rebujito",
a refreshing drink of Manzanilla de Sanlúcar, Seven Up
and lots of ice...
- The back room-interior part of the caseta-
where the kitchen, bar and WC are locate.
Basic Vocabulary
La caseta is the meeting place
for relatives and groups of friends, who meet to eat, drink and
dance. La portada is the entrance gate to the
fairgrounds and every year it represents one aspect of the city.
The streets are decorated with thousands of farolillos
down these streets you can see the characteristic paseo de caballos
during the day. La calle del infierno is a great
attraction park, and a favorite place for the smallest fair-goers.
It covers 300,000 m2.
Every year La Feria begins on
Monday at midnight with the alumbrado: the lighting of thousands
of lightbulbs in the portada and all of the Real. It ends on the
following Sunday with fuegos artificiales (a
fireworks display).
Abril Fair’s dates
La Feria tends to be in April but its exact date
is dependant upon Semana Santa (Easter). It is always one or two
weeks after.
Casetas with free entrance:
Caseta Municipal. Pepe Luís Vázquez,
53-57
Distrito Casco Antiguo. Antonio Bienvenida, 97-101
Distrito Este. Pascual Márquez 215-219
Distrito Macarena. Pascual Márquez 85-89
Distrito Nervión-San Pablo. Costillares 22-26
Distrito Sur. Ignacio Sánchez Mejías 61-65
Distrito Triana. Pascual Márquez 153-157
La de to er mundo. Costillares, 77
La Esmeralda. Costillares, 82
Giralda Center-SH guarantee: we maintain
the same prices for accommodations in shared apartments and with
families all year, even during the Feria de Abril despite great
demand.
Accommodation
in Seville >>>
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