Madrid Pride festivities. Photo courtesy of OndasDeRuido via Flickr
If you like heat, then you’ll be in heaven during summer in Madrid. And if you don’t, well, with a dry climate, generally ubiquitous blasting air conditioning, and loads of Spanish summer action, you shouldn’t let those 100-plus degree temperatures keep you away. Here are some of the hottest events worth catching during the city’s summer months.
Gay Pride
In June of each year, Madrid celebrates one of its biggest festivals: Gay Pride (Madrid Orgullo, as it is called in Spanish). As one of Europe’s largest Pride celebrations, it attracts around 2 million visitors, and a decidedly mixed audience that is hardly limited to just those celebrating their pride. The heart of the celebration takes place in Madrid’s gay-friendly Chueca neighborhood, with a parade on Saturday night that spans the city from Plaza de Cibeles to Plaza de España.
Veranos de la Villa
If you still haven’t gotten your fiesta fill, more good times await during Veranos de la Villa. Lasting from June to early September, performing arts events will (this year) feature artists like Earth, Wind and Fire, Diana Krall and Elvis Costello, and crop up around the city in various historic locations, like the Sabatini Gardens (which — if you can’t catch a concert — you might want to visit during a tour of the Royal Palace).
PhotoEspaña
If all the picture-taking of Madrid’s famous monuments has you eager to scope out still more photography, consider hitting up one of the many events during PhotoEspaña. Taking place from early June to the end of July, you can check out exhibitions around the city, which feature both famous and up-and-coming photographers, and take place in some of the city’s most seeable sights.
Terrazas
Perhaps the ultimate highlight of the Spanish summer season is the terraza: the outdoor seating areas where locals dine, drink or simply people watch. These terraces will be sprinkled throughout the city – some even with misters to cool you down. The best places for snagging a good terraza seat are in Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Santa Ana or in Plaza de Santa Barbara. To make like a local, order some tapas or a menú del día, and a caña (small beer), clara con limón (beer with lemonade) or a tinto de verano (wine of summer, made with red wine and lemon Fanta). Spanish summer never felt so good.
- Contributed by Erin Ridley
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