Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

36  INTRODUCING NOR THERN SP AIN

Average Rainfall Rainfall Chart
Galicia is the rainiest
MM Inches and windiest region,
100 3.9
fol lowed by the
80 3.1 Pyrenees. In winter,
some moun tain
60 2.4 villages are cut
off, due to heavy
40 1.6 snowfall. High up
in the mountains,
20 0.8 snow cover can
persist as late
0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec as June.
Día de Campoo (last Sun Sep),
Reinosa (Cantabria). Celebra tion
of Cantabrian folk music,
costumes and traditions,
with a parade of bullock carts.
San Sebastián Film Festival
(last 2 weeks Sep), San Sebastián
(Basque Country). One of the
world’s top film festivals,
inaugurated in 1953.
San Antolín (1–8 Sep),
Lekeitio (Basque Country).
Wild goose festival, including
a contest in which people
try to hang onto the greased
neck of a dead or rubber goose
above the harbour.
Visitors on a hike in the Picos de Europa
October
restaurants, and the hunting San Froilán (1st & 2nd week),
Autumn season also opens, continuing Lugo (Galicia). Food tasting,
Autumn marks the beginning until February. In larger parades, dancing and singing.
of vine harvest festivities, and towns the music and Seafood Festival (1st & 2nd
the first juice extracted from theatre seasons begin, week), O Grove (Galicia).
the grapes is blessed. The start and San Sebastián hosts Seafood tasting and danc ing
of the mushroom picking the famous film festival. in traditional costumes.
season becomes evident in Virgen del Pilar (12 Oct).
September National day of the
Vuelta Ciclista a patron saint of Spain.
España (late Aug–
mid-Sep) Round November
Spain cycle race. All Saints’ Day (1 Nov).
Regatas de La Traditional cakes are
Concha (1st and 2nd made the day before,
Sun Sep), San Sebastián and then people take
(Basque Country). flowers to cemeteries
Traditional Basque to remember
rowing races across deceased relatives.
La Concha bay. A woman in Os Magostos
Nuestra Señora de traditional costume (11 Nov) Galicia.
Covadonga (8 Sep), Many towns and
Picos de Europa (Asturias). villages celebrate the sweet
People pay homage to the chestnut harvest.
patron of Asturias. Fiesta del Humo (last Sun Nov),
Fiesta San Mateo (20–26 Sep), Arnedillo (La Rioja). Bonfires and
Logroño (Rioja). Rioja wine feasts in honour of St Andrew.
harvest is celebrated on Gijón Film Festival (late Nov–
The treading of grapes during the Fiesta St Matthew’s day with food, early Dec), Gijón (Astu rias). This
San Mateo in Logroño drink, concerts and corridas. film festival started in 1963.

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