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The culmination of Denia’s summer festival in the first fortnight of August is the Bous al Mar, when bulls are sent careering down the streets, chased by the bravest locals; it’s the locals, rather than the bulls, who end up in the sea!

Carnival is an excuse to party hard across the region. Águilas really goes to town as parades process riotously through the streets and parties erupt in every bar and square.

Carnival, usually held in February, gives everyone a chance to let off steam before Lent, and there are wild parties across the region. The village of Pego in the northern Costa Blanca puts on a good show, but the best of all is in Águilas.

A popular pilgrimage to this mountain sanctuary.

Habaneras are plaintive sea shanties, which get their name from the Cuban city where many Spaniards went to seek their fortunes – Havana. Torrevieja hosts an excellent festival in mid-August, when choral groups present contemporary and traditional songs.

One of the biggest cultural events on the Murcian calendar, San Javier’s International Festival of Theatre, Music and Dance is a great opportunity to see international performers at venues across the city.

Mock battles between Moors and Christians are common in the Costa Blanca. In Cartagena’s Festival of the Carthaginians and the Romans, held in September, the mock battles commemorate the expulsion of the Romans from the city.

Jumilla celebrates its ancient Wine Harvest Festival in the last two weeks of August.

According to a medieval legend, the Knights Templar broke out of the beseiged castle in Caravaca de la Cruz on a desperate search for water, but all they could find was wine. The story is recalled on 2 May each year, when richly dressed horses and horsemen process from the castle, and the local wine is blessed.

In the first week of May, Caravaca commemorates ancient legends and miracles with processions of “knights” on horseback and other traditional events in the Festival of the Cross of Caravaca (see Caravaca de la Cruz), (see Fiesta de los Caballos del Vino (Festival of the Knights of Wine)).