Europe's best summer events
July 7, 2009 June 26 – July 12: International Festival of Music and Dance, Spain
Every summer the capital of Andalucia, Granada, plays host to the International Festival of Music and Dance which is set in various venues around the city. Around forty jazz and classical concerts take place in the Alhambra, Generalife Gardens, monasteries and cathedral with smaller performances set in cafés and clubs throughout the city.
Getting there: Ryanair flies direct to Granada from London and Liverpool. Alternatively, fly to Malaga and from there Granada is a two-hour drive.
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July to August: Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Croatia
Every summer musical artists from all over the world congregate in the walled city of Dubrovnik to perform in its annual summer festival. The festival kicks off with a dramatic opening ceremony followed by stellar opera and ballet performances which take place on open-air stages around the city.
Getting there: Direct flights are available from London airports with easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair.
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August 24 – September 8: Florence Sound and Colours Festival, Italy
The unassuming province of Rignano sull'Arno near Florence plays host to a classical music festival that many from outside Italy have never heard of. But although this may not be as popular as other events in Europe, true music aficionados will appreciate the finest classical music that permeates through the medieval walls of this Tuscan town.
Getting there: Meridiana offers direct flights from Gatwick to Florence. Alternatively, fly to Pisa with Ryanair or British Airways.
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August 25: La Tomatina Festival, Spain
Every year on the last Wednesday in August a somewhat unusual event takes place in the town of Buñol near Valencia. The festival, La Tomatina, has become increasingly popular with thousands arriving from all walks of life to participate in the main highlight of the event: a tomato fight. It’s estimated that up to 115,000 kilograms of tomatoes are used.
Getting there: Flights to Valencia are available with easyJet, Iberia, Jet2 and Thomson.
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August 27 – September 5: Limassol Wine Festival, Cyprus
Wine connoisseurs will revel in the two-week long celebration of their beloved drink that takes place in the city during harvest time. The Limassol (Lemesos) Wine Festival kicks off with a fireworks display and comprises cultural events including wine-themed concerts, satirical reviews, comedy and magic shows. There’s plenty of free wine tasting too, of course.
Getting there: The easiest way to get to Limassol is by flying to Paphos with BA or by taking a connecting flight with KLM or Cyprus Airways.
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August 14 - August 22: Bilbao Semana Grande, Spain
To celebrate Bilbao’s Basque heritage, more than 100,000 people visit the vibrant city for the annual Bilbao Semana Grande (Big Week or Aste Nagusia). Each evening, for nine days, live musical performances around the city’s squares and churches take place. The two most popular venues are the Plaza Nueva (renowned for its Tapas bars) and the quarry amphitheatre behind the town hall.
Getting there: Iberia offers direct flights to Bilbao while Air France and Lufthansa offer connecting flights.
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© Cheapflights Ltd Seema Salaam
