Hello travellers! My husband and I will be in Barcelona, Granada, Madrid and Sevilla for three weeks. I'm assuming layers and light jackets are all we might need for keep potential chill from fall cool fronts away. But I am perplexed about whether I will need a skirt to enter any of the churches. Went to Prague, Paris, and throughout Germany two years ago and never had a need for a skirt in their churches, but someone suggested to my husband that Spain might be more conservative. Thoughts and guidance appreciated!
Posted by
Sunnyside, New York, United States
439 posts
You don't need a skirt for the churches. I wore pants and it was fine. I think as long as your knees are covered.
We were in Barcelona & Madrid last November (Thanksgiving week). Bring a rain jacket, weather proof shoes. I brought a rain proof jacket, a light quilt jacket and a jean jacket and a scarf. I didn't need much more than that. It rained a lot, so there were times I wore the rain jacket over the jean jacket or sweatshirt/sweater. The light quilt also gave me extra layer. Barcelona was much warmer than Madrid.
Mary
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thanks for the input -- and for the heads up about the rainwear!
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
No Catholic church requires a skirt. What can be required is that your knees and shoulders are covered. This is an issue in summer with shorts and shorter skirts and tank tops. No issue in fall when you will be wearing pants and not sleeveless tops. Spain is less strict on this than Italy anyway.
Layers, including a rain jacket, will be good. It is unlikely to be very cold, but if you get wet in a cool rain you will be uncomfortable.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4657 posts
I am traveling similar time frame leaving Oc 26th. I start in Granada, then Seville, Cordoba, Madrid and (maybe) end in Barcelona. I am taking carry on only, but I note on Wunderground website, that historical temps for Granada and Seville into early November are still over 24C (75+). I really like historical data rather than tourist site averages, as the temperatures have been rising the last few years. https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/LEGR/2016/11/6/MonthlyCalendar.html
I am packing sandals and some short sleeve or sleeveless. Then start to layer, with a chemise underneath, merino wool cardi and a rainproof jacket for Madrid. I have a double thick pashmina and for returning to Canada ('cause there could be snow), a stuffable down jacket. Gloves and hat. I pair of gaucho pants, 1 jeans, 2 dressier lightweight pants. Apartments provide washing machines.
All in carry on only.
I am sure you are keeping an eye on Barcelona. It might be worth considering to reduce luggage to carry on only. We may (or may not) know better Thursday what actions will be taken, but I don't think there is a full win/win in Catalonia. If they call more general strikes, then one needs to walk further, wait longer and carry your own stuff more often. I am not trying to suggest Armageddon or mayhem, but there are advantages of being mobile with your luggage, even if it is just to be able to fly standby if the thought comes up.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15794 posts
I'd take warm gloves too. My hands get cold, especially since I use the camera a lot. You may not need them at all, but in Granada and Madrid (higher elevations) it could be chilly, especially early mornings and around sunset when the wind picks up.
Posted by
Sapulpa, OK, USA
6552 posts
I agree that a skirt is unnecessary; slacks and a modest top are fine. But I wanted to add something odd that happened to me in Granada. Men, of course, should remove their hats when entering a church. But at the cathedral in Granada, a local indicated repeatedly that I should remove my hat. "Even women?" I asked. He continued to mime removing a hat. So I did.
I found this strange. I've been Catholic long enough to remember when women and girls were required to wear some kind of head covering in church. And nowhere else have I seen women being admonished to remove hats.
It disconcerted me so much that this last summer in Italy I found myself uneasy, never being sure whether or not it was okay to keep my hat on. Perhaps it was just that one guy, or that one church, or that one town.
Just a "heads-up," so to speak.
Posted by
Washington DC
28247 posts
I wear a hat constantly in Europe. I normally take it off when entering churches so my head can cool off a bit. (I'm a summer traveler.). Forgot to take my hat off at the Barcelona Cathedral and was told I needed to do so. The Cathedral is also strict about knees and shoulders.
Posted by
Western Canada
3513 posts
It was in Spain last October, and it went from being able to swim in the sea in the first week, to wearing every single thing
I had with me to keep warm in Madrid at the end, and I was still cold; and it rained a lot.
That was the first 10 days of October; and you will be going into November.
Madrid is the highest capital in Europe, so make sure you bring plenty of layers, and some gloves, scarf and a hat; just in case.
Have fun!