Seville's April Fair started as a cattle fair in 1847, thanks to local support from José María Ybarra and Narciso Bonaplata, who in turn with the help of city hall, got the support of Queen Isabel the Second. It began the Prado de San Sebastián and started with 19 casetas (circus-type tents), in an area at the time considered the outskirts of the city. It was such a success with the locals so that in 1950 they had to separate the cattle market from the festivities. Starting in the twenties it had appeared as it dos today. It's nothing more than an artificial city whose blocks are made of tents.

From 1973 on, the April Fair has been set up in the Los Remedios district in a rectangular piece of land almost a mile long and 700 yards wide. The streetare decorated with thousands of lanterns where you can see horses riding hitched to carts and carriages. Surrounding you you will find an immense amount of women in flamenco dresses with everyone singing and dancing the famous "sevillanas" songs and dances.

The April Fair begins every year with the official lighting of the lanterns where thousands of little lights shine at once, especially at the main gate. This celebration begins Monday at midnight and ends with a fireworks display the following Sunday.

The April Fair generally begins in April, but it all depends on when Holy Week falls. It's always a week or two after.

Street map of the Fair.
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