The San Prudencio Festival, organized in honor of the patron saint of the historical territory of Álava, is a unique opportunity to discover the most fun side of Vitoria.
When is it? Dates
In 2020, the festival will take place from Monday, April 27 to Friday, May 1.
San Prudencio Festival Program
Gastronomic contests, dances, sports events, and music are some of the festivities planned in honor of San Prudencio. Here are some of the most prominent activities:
April 27: The festivities begin with the San Prudencio parade, followed by the famous Tamborrada (drum festival).
April 28: On San Prudencio’s day, the popular pilgrimage is held around the Armentia Basilica. The children’s tamborrada (Tamborrada Txiki) takes place in the afternoon in the city center, along with other sports events like Basque pelota and the lifting of stones (Harri-jasotzea).
May 1: Pilgrimage to the Estíbaliz Sanctuary. The most popular events on this final day of the festival include a potato omelet contest and the Aurresku competition, a typical Basque dance.
The Retreta and the Tamborrada
The origin of the famous Retreta is a military march believed to have been used to warn citizens of the closing of the city walls. Today, the retreta signals that the San Prudencio festivities are about to begin. You will first hear 9 retreta calls every 15 minutes from the Vitoria City Hall, and one hour later, the same ritual will begin from the Álava Government. At the end, trumpets and drums will unite to announce the official start of San Prudencio. The Tamborrada, on the other hand, represents the highlight of the night on April 27, when chefs and various gastronomic representatives parade through the city streets, dressed in aprons and hats, marching to the sound of drums and the txistu (a typical Basque flute).
The Popular Pilgrimage at the San Prudencio Basilica in Armentia
This popular basilica in Vitoria is a must-stop for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago and the site for the pilgrimage on April 28, the most important day of the San Prudencio festivities.
The Estíbaliz Sanctuary
Declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1931, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Estíbaliz is dedicated to the patron saint of Álava and is the perfect place to enjoy Basque folk dance, the Aurresku, a ceremonial dance performed by the aurreskulari, a traditional dancer, accompanied by a musician with the txistu and a tambourine.
What to eat at the San Prudencio Festival?
During these dates, it's typical to eat scrambled eggs with perretxikos (spring mushrooms) and snail stews, which are symbols of the San Prudencio festival.
Where to stay
The 4-star Silken Ciudad de Vitoria Hotel is located less than 10 minutes from the Plaza de la Provincia, where the San Prudencio Festival begins. With a unique location in the city center, you’ll be just a short walk from most of the events organized during the festivities. Silken Hotels guarantee the best price when booking through the official website, as well as a free cancellation option. These are the distances from the hotel to the different event locations:
San Prudencio Basilica: 10 minutes by bus on Line L4 from the Micaela Portilla stop to the Avenida San Prudencio 58 stop.
