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Mention the words 'holiday in Spain' to someone, and their mind is immediately ablaze with images of beautiful sandy beaches, bronzed bodies stretched out on sun loungers, brilliant sunshine and quaint plazas perfect for lounging in and sipping a cold cerveza over some patatas bravas and gambas. But what happens when the crowds of tourists start to thin out and the days grow shorter and colder?
For the curious souls who seek to find out, not only does the country retain much of its charm and good weather, but winter is when Spain reveals another, altogether more interesting (and occasionally downright unusual) side. Intrigued? You ought to be...
We take a look at some of the many reasons to visit Spain in winter and what you might await those who do.
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The first point is an obvious one. For those in northern Europe who struggle through the chilly temperatures and scarcity of sunlight during the bleak winter months, an escape to the blues skies and warmer climes of Spain in winter can't fail to bring some much-needed cheer.
While the winter season in London might offer you less than 8 hours of sunlight, Spain is closer to the equator, and so the likes of Seville and the Canary islands will see around 9.5 hours of sunlight per day.
This spring-like feeling is also extended to the temperature. Thanks to the mild climate of the Mediterranean coast of the country, many of the country's most celebrated regions enjoy temperatures consistent with a northern European spring, while in the winter months, the southernmost parts of Spain, such as Andalusia and the Canary Islands off of the coast of Africa, often see abundant sunshine and daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid twenties. So, if you're heading to Spain in winter, don't forget to pack your sunscreen!
But there's more to a winter holiday Spain than simply eating tapas in short sleeves! It's easy to forget to look beyond the long stretches of sandy beaches and cosy coves that characterise the Spanish summer experience and take the time to appreciate the many treasures of the country's iconic cities.
Anyone who has visited the likes of Barcelona or Seville between the spring and the autumn will know that, although a fabulous experience nonetheless, the top tourist attractions, such as Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia or Casa Battló in Barcelona, Seville's iconic cathedral or Granada's famous Alhambra, can become a little overcrowded at times. One of the benefits of visiting Spain in the winter months is that the hordes of tourists have for the most part dissipated and you have the opportunity to savour the many architectural and cultural riches of Spain in a more relaxed ambiance. In fact, it could be argued that winter is the best time to visit Barcelona, given there are fewer people vying for the best photo spots, while the city's myriad charms are not all dependent on the weather.
For, although the temperatures are generally pleasant and the skies blue during winter in Spain, even on a rare rainy day Barcelona's must-see Picasso Museum, the Spanish capital's Prado or the jaw-droppingly beautiful ceiling of Cordoba's famous cathedral mosque (a UNESCO world heritage site) do not lose any of their lustre.
Meanwhile, the Spanish football season is in full-swing during the winter months, with games played on average twice a week. If you have hoped to see the stars of Barca, Real Madrid or Sevilla in the flesh and heard the roar of their iconic stadiums, the winter is the perfect time to go.
Spain's climate is far from uniform, and winter in Spain can see cold weather in some areas, revealing another side to the country far removed from the cliches associated with the summer. In the north-eastern regions of Catalonia and Aragon, which hug the Pyrenees, there are a great many resorts to be enjoyed by winter sports enthusiasts, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking across the mountain tops in snow shoes.
Surprisingly, the south of Spain also possesses a ski resort in the snow-capped Sierra Nevada range, standing proudly between the city of Granada and the coast of Almeria, which holds the honour of being Europe's southernmost ski resort.
Elsewhere, the mild temperatures are actually conducive to outdoor activities, making winter the best time to undertake hiking and mountain biking adventures otherwise rendered untenable by the blazing summer sun. A winter holiday in the south of Spain is the perfect opportunity to explore some of the hiking trails near Malaga or those that criss-cross the Balearic Islands and offer wonderful panoramic views all the way to the Mediterranean sea. What's more, the exercise provides the perfect opportunity to work off some of those tapas you've over-indulged in...
As with any culture, Spain and its many different regions react to the cold weather by turning to certain familiar comforts and winter traditions, be they the heart (and belly) warming combination of churros and hot chocolate, eaten throughout the Iberian peninsula, or the heavier soups and stews that replace the typical tapas on the nights when the weather takes a turn for the brisk. Beyond comfort food, the winter season also sees different activities come to the fore, such as ice skating outside the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, or a wander under the Christmas lights and around the charming Christmas markets of its famed cities (highlights include those of Barcelona, Malaga, Granada and Seville) to browse the ornaments you can buy to adorn your pesebre (literally 'manger', but better recognised as the nativity scene) as well as all manner of delightful artisan items, toys and local cheeses, sweets and cured meats.
The winter is also the time of year when the country's celebrated folklore and regional traditions come to the fore. For, those browsing the Christmas markets in Catalonia might be surprised to find the ubiquitous figurine of the El Caganer (literally 'the shitter'). This cheerful-looking peasant (complete with a traditional Catalan red barretina hat) is to be found relieving himself in the background of nativity scene's all over the north-eastern region. There are a number of explanations for his being there, ranging from the more down-to-earth "he's fertilising the ground ready for following year's nativity scene" to the rather more poetic justification: "he's a hidden figure and yet is always sought out like the lost link between transcendence and contingency". Whatever the truth may be, it's fair to assume what the caganer's reaction to these explanations may be... Meanwhile, every year the region's equally bizarre twist on the yule log, El Tio, sees children using a stick to beat a log (painted with a defiantly smiley face, and donning a red barretina and blanket) until he defecates sweets, the 'strange fruit' of a month spent patiently caring for and feeding the log.
However, Spain's Christmas and winter traditions are not restricted to skiing, skating and scatology. the 28th of December is the day the country celebrates 'El Día de los Inocentes', essentially the Spanish April Fool's Day, in which everyone from your friends to the news media test your gullibility, before pointing and cackling "caiste por inocente!" at the unfortunate believer.
On the same date, the village of Ibi near Alicante celebrates the day of Els Enfarinats, literally 'the flour-covered', during which 14 married (a non-negotiable requirement, apparently) men descend on the centre of the old town and stage a mock coup d'etat. They then enact ridiculous new laws and any local passers-by who refuses to abide by them get plastered with flour and eggs by way of punishment. By 5pm however, the town's 'insurgent forces' wrest back control and the tables are turned, with the plotters then themselves covered with flour and eggs by the locals. Another ancient Spanish winter tradition with unclear origins. Perhaps there is less enjoyment in knowing where it comes from than in partaking in it.
Although Christmas and New Year dominate the winter celebrations, there are other festivities and important days to look forward to and experience on a Spanish winter holiday. Many of them are centred around the start of Pascuas, or Lent, which is marked with the week-long Carnaval celebrations, and are not to be missed.
Held throughout the country during this period, many of the most famous Carnaval festivities take place in the region of Andalusia and on the Canary Islands, as well as in Sitges, close to Barcelona. The Carnaval de Cádiz, the biggest in all of mainland Spain, is perhaps the most light-hearted of them, with comedy and silliness a key feature. Here, travelling bands of chirigotas, musical groups usually made up of 12 people, pass through the centre of Cádiz and sing satirical songs, amusing the huge crowds of people who have poured onto the streets to dance, drink and be merry.
Elsewhere, in the Canary Islands, the carnivals of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife are particularly noteworthy for their almost Brazilian flavour, the latter perhaps the biggest of them all. This two-week celebration sees the streets alight with colour and costume and draws to a close with 'the burial of the sardine' in which the spirit of the festival, a huge plastic sardine, is carried on a float, in a procession that passes the hordes of 'mourners' who have come to pay their last respects, before being burnt and laid to rest for another year. Reason enough to start planning your next winter holiday in Tenerife.
Similar in size to that of Cádiz, the Carnaval de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is distinctive for its famed Drag Queen Gala. On the night the Gala Queen is crowned, an alternative gala takes place, during which mainly male contestant don their most fabulous outfits (think towering high heels, and a flurry of feathers and shiny costumes) and after some deliberation a carnival queen is chosen.
Finally, with the temperatures in the winter months feeling at times more like temperatures from mid-spring, it's no surprise that January and February see the start of the almond blossoms across Spain. This beautiful snowy display of white-pink flowers takes place in various parts of Spain, but among the most famous are those of Ibiza, Mallorca and the small towns that dot the countryside of Malaga, A fitting end to the winter season and a further reason, if you needed one, why winter is the best time to escape the cold weather and visit this wonderful (if somewhat eccentric) country!
At Villanovo we have carefully selected a fabulous range of stunning luxury villas all across Spain, from which you can set off on your Spanish adventure. Furthermore, our local specialists and concierge service are on hand to assist you in choosing the ideal villa for you and your loved ones, and to help arrange all manner of activities and excursions, making sure you enjoy the best possible stay in Spain.
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