Seville Spring Fair

Trooprai,

I've visited Sevilla, but not in April/ May during The Feria but I've read that this is a very popular celebration & you may need to book your accomodations way in advance (prices may be higher during this time)

According to Andalucia.com, The Feria will start Saturday, April 29, instead of Tuesday May 2nd:

Until now, the first day has officially been Tuesday, with the big first night celebration (before the Feria officially starts) including the alumbrado (turning on of the lights on the entrance gate and around the fairground at midnight), being on the Monday. The fair then lasted for six days, Tuesday to Sunday.
With the new system, the Feria would last one day longer – a seven-day period from from Sunday to Saturday – in 2017, 30 April to 6 May. This means the big alumbrado first night would be a Saturday (29 April) , and will probably last well into Sunday, the first official day. Block it off in your diary!

To answer your questions:

1. There are bullfights every evening during the fair, but you'll need to buy tickets since they are held at the Plaza de Toros (bullring). Please note that the first bullfight takes place on Easter Sunday, not on the first day of the Feria.

2. Yes, the casetas are privately owned by eminent families, businesses, political parties & such.
   I believe, you may walk around the fairground, but since I've not been there, I'll let others give you more information about this. I'd suggest spending at least 3 days in Sevilla.

3. We stayed in Barrio Santa Cruz, the Jewish Quarter, which is near the Cathedral & Royal Alcázar, & there are many restaurants & shops. However, our favorite place for tapas is at, "La Antigua Bodeguita", on Plaza del Salvador, right across from the church by the same name.

Here are some links you may interested in reading:

• http://spanishsabores.com/2013/04/20/seville-april-fair-why-its-not-for-me/

• http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/festivals/feria-de-abril/

Enjoy your trip!

The casetas are family and business and there will be a couple of public ones. Stand outside any one, look interested if something other than just drinking, eating and talking is going on and you may be invited in.

I have little to say about bullfighting, except I doubt you have a done enough research, as you refer to the slaughters as a bullfight, when there will be six each session.

Just to clarify, it is not my personal interest to see a bullfight but my husband's. Since we share the experience of the trip, I'm planning on attending one for him. I actually despise the idea.

Regarding the bullfight...

I agree with Neil's comment:

I have little to say about bullfighting, except I doubt you have a done enough research, as you refer to the slaughters as a bullfight, when there will be six each session.

BTW, I've never attended one & I have no desire of ever attending a bullfight.

I'd suggest you do some research & decide if this is really the way you want to spend your time.

If it were me, I'd much rather watch a Flamenco show.

Trooprai - I have sent a p.m. in response to yours, but an email has advised your mailbox is not monitored.

We were in Sevilla during the first days of Feria 5 yearsa go, and loved. I am a horse lover so of course I would enjoy it, but my husband also enjoyed the pageantry. We just walked the grounds in late afternoon on two successive days, stood on corners admiring the parade of horses and carriages, and took lots of mostly redundant photos. We did not try to get invited into any of the casitas.

After an hour or two there we wandered back to our hotel close by the cathedral and relaxed with a glass of wine on the roof terrace of our hotel, with a gorgeous view of the Giralda at sunset. Then we wandered the lanes to find a nice sport for dinner. It was very quiet in the city and some places were closed, but we did find enough open to enjoy a nice dinner outside.

Our hotel was the Casa 1800, which I highly recommend:

http://www.hotelcasa1800sevilla.com/en/home

It is on the border of Barrio Santa Cruz, close to the cathedral. There are lots of other choices in the immediate area as well. I recommend this location for easy walking to the fairgrounds, the Alcazar, and other sites.

While visiting Sevilla, we stayed at Hotel Amadeus (where RS tours stay), & Hotel Fernando III, both of which are in the Barrio Santa Cruz close to the Cathedral & the Royal Alcázar.

Enjoy your time in Spain!

Edit to add...
Both of these hotels are steps from each other.
Hotel Amadeus was booked for our last night in Sevilla, due to a Rick Steves' tour taking over most of the hotel.
We enjoyed our stay in each of these two hotels, but Hotel Fernando III, was less expensive, when booked way in advance.

We're both in our 50's, not sure if that give you any clue, but that is what it is. :)

Just curious - what does that mean? Give you any clue about what?