10 fairs and markets to experience a legendary Spain
The medieval era takes us back to centuries past. In Spain, there are still places where it is possible to bring back the echo of minstrels and troubadours and admire the costumes, crafts and gastronomy that remind us of another time. If you like history, Spain offers endless magical settings that recreate the lifestyle, customs and traditions of hundreds of years ago. Want to travel back in time to discover them?
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Themed Market, Cordoba
It is held every January in the area around the Guadalquivir River, from the Miraflores Bridge to the Roman Bridge, very close to the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. Every year, the fair brings to life a different episode from the city's history, from ancient Rome to the Renaissance. Its streets don period decorations, and there are dozens of performances every day showcasing the work of artisans and other music, theatrical, dance, acrobatic, juggling and magic shows. You can also taste sweets, cheeses, sausages, meats and typical medieval drinks.
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The wedding of Isabel de Segura
The medieval fair of Aragon takes you back to the 13th century every February to recreate the tragic love story between Isabel de Segura and Diego de Marcilla, known as the “Lovers of Teruel”. The large-scale festival recreates the legend in a theatrical way, with more than 60 events held in the Teruel's historic city centre. The streets are transformed into a large market, coming alive with hundreds of people dressed in medieval garb, gathering around bonfires, complete with dances, craftsmen and musicians.
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Eivissa Medieval
Every May, this event transforms the old town of Eivissa into a grand celebration marking the island's inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list for its biodiversity and culture. The events spotlight the diverse cultures that have shaped its essence, including Phoenician, Roman and Arab influences. The fair transforms the streets of Dalt Vila into a market with more than 200 craft and food stalls, where there is no shortage of entertainment, music and activities, from Arabic dances and medieval theatre to falconry and archery.
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Medieval Fair of Hondarribia
During the month of June, in the historic centre of this beautiful coastal city in the province of Gipuzkoa, artisans, carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons gather, in period costume, to sell their products. Alongside puppeteers, jugglers, and minstrels, the commercial activity of its ancient medieval port is reenacted.
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Sigüenza Mediaeval Festival
In Sigüenza (Guadalajara), this fair is celebrated in July against the backdrop of the main monuments, streets and squares of the historic city centre. Sigüenza transforms into a medieval setting, with locals dressing in period attire and offering visitors a historic market featuring traditional foods and a variety of exhibitions. One of the most picturesque events is the Noche de Embrujo, featuring troupes of witches, skeletons, ladies dressed in black and white, and elves parading through the town with ritual dances.
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Medieval Market of Puebla de Sanabria
Every August, this traditional fair in Puebla de Sanabria celebrates the rich history of a town that was a key landmark in the Middle Ages. It features performances that recreate the era, with noblemen, troubadours, jesters, rogues, acrobats, jugglers, magicians and witches. For the event, there are a multitude of medieval taverns and other stalls where you can taste cheeses, sausages, pâtés, empanadas and sugared nuts, cakes, honey, waffles, sweets and many other treats.
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Cervantes Week
Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of the legendary author Miguel de Cervantes, hosts one of Europe’s largest themed fairs every October. The festival celebrates the Spanish Golden Age and one of its greatest literary figures: Don Quixote. The Cervantes Market draws crowds with its nearly 400 stalls and 300 performances ranging from music to theatre, children's entertainment and other historical reenactments, including horse jousting and medieval tournaments. In addition, local restaurants offer special tasting menus.
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Medieval festival in Elche
It takes place every year in this Alicante town during the last two weeks of October. A grand fireworks display in the historic center kicks off the event, which features a market, theatre performances, parades, dance workshops and medieval songs, among other activities that bring the origins of this ancient city closer to its visitors.
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Vic Medieval Fair
It's one of the most famous festivals in Catalonia and is celebrated during the first days of December. The event transforms the streets of this charming Barcelona town into a medieval stage, offering a wide range of stalls where visitors can find everything from armor and medieval shields to textiles, jewelry, clothing accessories and even medicinal creams and herbs. The food offerings invite you to taste cured meats and sausages, preserves, pastries, and chocolates, as well as traditional medieval dishes like butifarra and caldo.
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Fair of La Concepción in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
On the banks of the Oja River, the La Rioja town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada also hosts a medieval market every December as part of this fair. Around 90 stalls and a wide variety of shows featuring jesters, stilt walkers, musicians, fairies, elves and other travelling characters are set up in its network of medieval streets. At the same time, the Ecoferia el Camino also takes place, with local organic products and an antiques and collectibles fair.
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