Discover the traditions that
will fascinate you
The festive celebrations of Baena are largely rooted in tradition, extending beyond local boundaries and attracting numerous visitors who are eager to either take part in them or witness them as unique events.
Holy Week (Easter)
Baena’s Holy Week, declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, has unique characteristics that define it as one of the most peculiar and original celebrations in all of Spain. Its distinctive drumbeats are considered Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
An explosion of sound, accompanied by a unique chromatic vibrancy reflected in the striking uniform of the Jewish brotherhoods “coliblancos” and “colinegros.”
Lent
On Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, the week before Holy Week, and on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday, the Misereres take place, events in which the Brotherhoods and Religious Associations visit their patron saints.
During the Misereres, ancient chants and “saetas” are sung, accompanied by the drumbeats.
Vigil of Saint Joseph
MARCH 18TH
During the afternoon of March 18th and the early hours of March 19th, Baena transforms into a bustling sound of drums as people walk through the “candelorios” or bonfires lit in various streets of the old town. More than 3,000 drummers stroll through the historic streets of Baena, visiting the candelorios lit by the children, to the rhythm of the traditional drumming.
National Drum and Bass Drum Days
The importance of the Drum in Baena is such that it is included in the National Drum and Bass Drum Commission, which annually brings together thousands of drummers from different parts of Spain, at the National Days of Drum and Bass Drum Exaltation. Baena has hosted this event on four occasions (1992, 1999, 2006, and 2016).
The Days of Drum and Bass Drum Exaltation are a cultural event held annually in different parts of Spain. The goal is to bring together the various forms of communication that the drum and bass drum have conveyed throughout history and to see how they have adapted over the last century to the different ways of celebrating Holy Week across Spain.
Baena’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Tapas Route
Baena’s Route of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tapas is celebrated at the end of January, an unmissable event for food lovers. For three days, Baena becomes a gastronomic destination with the great attraction of our liquid gold.
During this event, 16 establishments offer a tapa where extra virgin olive oil is the main ingredient, which can be paired with wine from the Montilla-Moriles Denomination of Origin.
The Tapas Route is also complemented by activities such as a show cooking event and street concerts.
Royal Fair
The Royal Fair of Baena begins on the Wednesday before the first weekend of October.
It is a festive event where horses, flamenco dresses, and a traditional atmosphere come together in the booths, alongside numerous attractions and a vibrant atmosphere in the Ramón Santaella park area and in the Juncal area.
Medieval Market
Every year, during a weekend, Plaza Palacio and its surroundings step back in time to the medieval era, thanks to this market featuring craft stalls, gastronomy, demonstration and participatory workshops, fire shows, and other activities.