zamora Province - February 13-15 - "Fiestas de Carnaval".
Located 31 kms. from Zamora, high above Duero River; famous for fruits and red wines; historically interesting town; Churches of San Julian, San Lorenzo, El Salvador, and convents with art works; various civic edifices; old and typical buildings.
Noteworthy local costumes, especially one called "viuda rica" (rich widow] in black velvet, embroidered in gold.
Logrono Province - May 10--15 - "Fiestas de Santo Domingo de la Calzada".
Located 46 kms, from Logrono, on ancient "Jacobean Route"; 13th century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, with Santo Domingo's Sepulchre.
Celebrations begin on May 10 with "desfile de los _ carneros" (lambs' procession] - two especially fattened lambs to be sacrificed at dawn, on May 12: "almuerzo del Santo" (Saint's Feast). Procession of "ramos y Ins prioras", oxen-drawn carts festively decorated with oak boughs; procession of dancers in typical dress, musicians with particularly attractive wickerwork headress; more processions on May 11, followed by dancers and music inns, and the meats and vegetables for Saint's Feast; procession of "golden wheel" in memory of Saint's miracle. May 12 - main day of festival - Saint's Feast, solemn Mass, procession in typical pilgrims' costumes, singing of popular traditional songs - "villancicos". Also bullfights, "verbenas", fireworks.
Soria Province - June 23-25 - "Paseo del fuego y fiesta de las Mondidas".
Located 48 kms. from Soria; ruins of castle; typical scenery; some hunting, especially partridge.
Impressive ceremony - men, on night of 23rd, cross "carpet" of live coals, 2 m. long, barefoot! Frequently carrying another on back. Also typical procession with "Mondidas" (women with special wickerwork headress); other typical events of popular nature.
Logrono Province - June 24-29 - "Fiestas de San Juan" [24th]
"Fiestas de San Pedro" [29th] "Romeria de San Felices de Bilibio (25th].Located 44 kms. from Logrono; hunting and fishing. Annual pilgrimage on 29th and Mass in honour of San Felices; typical and unique "batalla de vino" (wine battle] symbolising ancient strife and dispute between Haro and neighbouring locality Miranda de Ebro over possession of Saint's hermitage. Pilgrimage to hermitage assures continued ownership of territory.
June 29 - July 3 - "Fiestas de San Juan" or "La Madre de Dios".
Located 220 kms. from Madrid; rich in monuments, especially Roman; summer resort; hunting, fishing.
Very ancient festival - traditional, colorful and varied. Two weeks prior to first Thursday of fiesta - "La Compla" (shopping], very typical and colorful celebration, with bull-enclosure, free bullfights, excursion, procession in typical dress, fireworks, "verbenas", sports spectacles; particularly - events on Thursday known as "la saca", and Sunday known as "de calderas".
Soria Province - August 14-18 - "Fiestas de San Roque".
Located 50 kms. from Soria. Small town of great character, declared of "Touristic Interest"; famous Cathedral; rich library-museum; famous places in vicinity, e.g. San Esteban de Gormaz, Calatanazo, Almaza and Berlanga de Duero. Hunting and fishing.
Bullfighting; dance called "la rueda" (wheel); popular celebrations.
September 20-27 - "Fiestas de San Mateo - Vendimia Riojana". [Rioja Vintage Festival].
Located 384 kms. from Madrid; capital of Rioja wins growing region; on Jacobean Route; 15th century Santa Maria de Redonda Colegiate: Imperial Church of Santa Maria del Palacio (National Monument]; 16th century Santiago el Real.
Wine festival celebrated with literary contest in exaltation of regional qualities; National Poster Contest; election of Float Queen and maids-of-honour; song festival; flower battle with participating floats; treading and blessing of the "must"; first "must" offered to Virgin in emotive ceremony.