Open a bottle of your best champagne… the occasion is worthy of it.
Tudela dresses up in red and white to celebrate its
festivities in honour of the town's patron saint, Santa Ana. The
cohete (inaugural rocket) on
July 24th at 12 noon marks the start of seven days or uninterrupted partying. One great event is the dance called "
la Revoltosa", which brings many people together every day around the bandstand in the central square, the Plaza de los Fueros. After midnight and the singing of a
jota and a dance called the 'Baile de la Era' (meadow dance), the most daring have a go at three different dance steps, going round and round the bandstand. They end up going so fast the square seems to be plunged into a kind of madness.
Honouring the tradition,
the procession of Santa Ana is held
on the
26th. The cortege leaves the Cathedral at
11:30 and walks through the streets of the old part, headed by the Municipal Council and followed by the brass band of Tudela and the cortege of ceremonial giants and big-heads.
Like in any good fiesta, the
encierros (bull runs) every morning are a must-see, together with the
verbenas (open-air dances) and bullfights... You have a whole week to be seen on the streets of Tudela!
