Article Spain’s summer melodies

I am #CreativelyCurious

As the warm weather arrives, Spaniards hit the streets to enjoy the best music from the past and the present. Step into the rhythm of Spain‘s summer nights with any or all of the following outdoor music festivals! 

Noches de Embrujo (Enchanted Nights) 

These are nights where you can enjoy flamenco shows in unique settings.  

Originating in the mix of cultures and traditions that is Andalusia, flamenco is one of the most quintessentially Spanish artistic disciplines. Recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, it is an art form bursting with emotion and passion, expressed in music, song, and dance. 

The Enchanted Nights can be experienced especially in Andalusia over the summer. For example, the  Music and Dance Festival of Granada takes place in July in the Alhambra, Seville holds shows in the  gardens of the Real Alcázar Palace, and at the Cordoba Guitar Festival, many of the concerts are held in the bullring and on the city’s streets. 

Musical nights in a cave 

In Mallorca, you can go to a classical music concert on one of the world’s largest underground lakes. The setting: the Drach Caves, a very special place with imposing rock formations created over thousands of years. As you sit facing Lake Martel, illuminated boats appear out of the darkness carrying musicians who will play a short concert of classical music for you, while the lights gradually come up over the underground lake. 

You can also enjoy this experience in the Cova d’en Xoroi, on the island of Menorca, and in Los Jameos del Agua, a lava tube on the island of Lanzarote that the artist César Manrique transformed into a charming space by carefully blending architecture and nature. 

Nights of candles, flowers and music 

Night falls, the street lights go out and thousands of candles begin to illuminate the streets, balconies and courtyards of a town. In the background is the sound of music. There are a number of places in Spain where you can enjoy this experience, for instance in  Pedraza, in Segovia and in Rodalquilar, in Almeria. 

In Vejer de la Frontera, one of the famous white villages of Cadiz, in early June the whitewashed walls of the houses glow at night, lit by thousands of candles placed throughout the old town, which are left to burn into the early hours of the morning. The best thing to do is to take a quiet stroll along the recommended route and enjoy the concert that takes place in the Plaza de España. 

A few miles from Madrid, in the  Guadalajara region, lies a little-known secret in the form of vast fields of purple lavender. In July every year, millions of flowers are collected. The Brihuega Lavender Festival celebrates the harvest. Participants dress in white and watch the sunset in the middle of the fields of flowers, while various musicians give concerts. At nightfall, the time comes for a picnic buffet dinner beneath the stars.