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ENVIRONMENT

IN PICS: The best places to see spring blossom in Spain

Today, March 21st, marks the first day of spring, so to celebrate, we've found pictures of some of the best places in Spain to visit during the floral season.

IN PICS: The best places to see spring blossom in Spain
Where to see spring blossom in Spain? Photo: ValverdeRedactor / Pixabay

Whether it’s almond or cherry blossom, the vibrant yellow bloom of mimosa or apple blossom festivals, there are signs of spring all across Spain. 

There’s no need to travel as far as Japan either as Spain hosts many of its own blossom and flower festivals that will be taking place over the next couple of months. Here are some of the best places to see wildflowers in Spain this spring. 

Quinta de los Molinos, Madrid

In Madrid, this is the time of year when couples flock to the Quinta de los Molinos park (Near Suances Metro in the east of the city) to admire the groves of almond trees. 

Quinta de Molinos Park in Madrid is a great spot to see the blossoms. Photo: Claudio Six / Pixabay

Aitona, Catalonia 

Located near the city of Lleida in Catalonia, each March and April the small town of Aitona transforms into a sea of pink as the surrounding peach trees begin to bloom. 

The town of Aitona in Catalonia becomes a sea of pink. Photo: Georgina Yuste / Pixabay

Valle de Jerte, Extremadura 

Move over Japan, Spain has its own cherry blossom festival. Located in the Valle de Jerte in Extremadura, from late march until mid-April over one and a half million cherry trees begin to flower. Some of the best villages to see the blooms are Piornal, Casas del Castañar, El Torno and Rebollar. The Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in these towns usually at the beginning of April with markets, fairs and tours. 

See the cherry trees in the Valle de Jerte. Photo: Luis / Pixabay
 
 

Caderechas Valley, Castilla y León

Near the city of Burgos in northern Spain lies the Caderechas valley, filled with rows upon rows of fruit trees, from apple to cherry. Each spring, they burst into a kaleidoscope of colour. 

See the blossom in the Caderechas Valley. Photo: Alexander Gresbek / Pixabay
 
 

Sierra Mágina, Jaén, Andalusia

Jaén may be more well known for its olives than its blossoming fruit trees, but hidden among the olive groves of the Sierra Mágina, you’ll find the delicate white flowers of hundreds of cherry trees. 

 

See the cherry blossom in Jaén. Photo: Pxfuel
 
 

Cider District, Asturias 

The northern region of Asturias is known for its delicious cider, but what makes you appreciate this amber liquid even more is visiting during apple blossom season in late April or early May. The Asturias cider district is located across the villages of Bimenes, Cabranes, Colunga, Nava, Sariegu and Villaviciosa, which turn into a snow-white scene during the yearly Apple Blossom Week. 

 

Visit Asturias during Apple Blossom Week. Photo: Pxfuel
 

Mallorca, Balearics

Fragrant scents of almond and orange blossom drift through the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains in Mallorca each spring. Every April, the town of Sóller plays host to the annual Orange Blossom Festival, paying homage to the town’s strong history with the citrus fruit. 

 

See the orange blossom in Mallorca. Photo: Joanjo Puertos Muñoz / Pixabay
 

Temps de Flors, Girona, Catalonia

While the Temps de Flors festival isn’t a blossom festival like the ones above, it is a great opportunity to see the spring flowers in full bloom in a unique and creative way. Each May, the Catalan city of Girona holds this flower festival, which sees floral artists creating living installations on routes throughout the historic town. 

 

Visit the Temps de Flors flower festival in Girona. Photo: Manuel Torres Garcia / Pixabay
 

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ENVIRONMENT

Wildfire in Spain forces hundreds to evacuate

Firefighters backed by soldiers battled a wildfire in western Spain on Friday that has forced hundreds of people to evacuate from nearby villages, officials said.

Wildfire in Spain forces hundreds to evacuate

The blaze, which broke out Wednesday near the village of Pinofranqueado in the sparsely populated region of Extremadura, was set “intentionally”, the region’s agriculture minister Begona Garcia told reporters.

At least 550 people from several villages have been evacuated because of the risk of the flames, Spain’s Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

READ ALSO: Why are there so many forest fires in Spain?

The battle against the blaze was “evolving unfavourably, mainly due to the strong winds,” the statement added.

Over 275 professionals backed by 14 water aircraft were working to put out the flames, the regional government said. The firefighting team included some 165 soldiers from Spain’s military emergencies unit UME.

“There are very strong gusts of wind, which are making it very difficult to put out the fire,” UME commander David Barona told public television TVE.

READ ALSO: What to do and what to avoid if you witness a forest fire in Spain

He estimated the blaze had so far ravaged up to 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of land.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was following the “evolution of the wildfire very closely”.

Spain, which is experiencing long-term drought after three years of below-average rainfall, has experienced multiple wildfires already this year.

The drought was made worse by an unusually early heatwave at the end of April that brought exceptionally high temperatures normally only seen in summer across much of the country.

READ ALSO: Spain to spend €2 billion to tackle drought

The mercury hit 38.8C (101.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southern city of Granada on April 27th, the hottest temperature ever recorded in mainland Spain during that month.

In 2022, a particularly bad year for wildfires in Europe, Spain was the continent’s worst-hit country. Nearly 500 blazes destroyed more than 300,000 hectares, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is making extreme weather events including heatwaves and droughts more frequent and more intense. They increase the risk of fires, which emit climate-heating greenhouse gases.

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