Bull Run, Denia

A traditional bull run comes to the Costa Blanca town of Denia, near Valencia this week.

Festivities begin on July 7th and continue for seven days. Locals and brave tourists gather by the coastal town's harbour and several bulls are released. Using strength, guile and quick feet to avoid the dangerous animals is a centuries old test of machismo in Spain.

The run at Denia is unusual in that it is raced alongside the harbour walls themselves. Consequently, it features many runners jumping straight into the sea to avoid the stampeding bulls!

Local residents will also host processions, concerts, costumed carriage parades and even a beach volleyball tournament during this time. A firework display, rock performances and a dance festival are planned for the evenings.

Although the bull run at Denia takes place at almost the same time as that of the Basque town of Pamplona, chronicled by Ernest Hemingway and now one of Spain's biggest tourist attractions, it actually has completely different origins.

Whereas Pamplona's festival celebrates the feast day of San Fermin, Denia's commemorates the Day of the Sacred Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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