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Murcia City’s Spring Fiesta (from the Tuesday following Easter Sunday) begins with the bizarre ritual of the Burial of the Sardine, a joyful Battle of the Flowers, and the Bando de la Huerta , a parade of amusing, satirical floats.

Cocentaina has celebrated All Saints on 1 November every year since 1346; it’s one of the oldest traditional fairs in Spain. Originally an agricultural and grain market, it is now a hugely popular medieval-style fair selling all kinds of local produce from honey to cheese.

The Feast of St John the Baptist on 24 June is celebrated in the Costa Blanca with bonfires, fireworks and parades. Alicante’s festival is the biggest.

Held every July in Cartagena, this world music festival has become one of the best of its kind in Europe. Concerts are held in the Roman theatre, the ancient cathedral, and other beautiful settings around the old quarter.

On Holy Tuesday, an earsplitting parade of drummers processes through Mula during the Gran Tamborada . There are other tamboradas at Moratalla on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

As in olden times, farming families in inland towns still slaughter their pigs every November to create the famous embutidos (cured sausages and hams) (see Embutidos).

The origins of this medieval mystery play – the only one to have survived a 17th-century ban by the Council of Trent – date back to the 13th century. It is performed in mid-August every year in the vast Basílica de Santa María in Elx (see Elx (Elche)).

Hugely popular pilgrimage to this monastery (see Monasterio de la Santa Faz).

Mock battles between Moors and Christians have been held for centuries. The biggest and best is held in Alcoi (Alcoy) around 24 April, but most villages have their own version.

A traditional pilgrimage in honour of the town’s patron saint.