The hotel is in the grounds of a 19th-century bodega close to the centre of town.Further information Jerez Tourism (00 34 956 324747; ) 9 San Sebastian Film Festival. 15-24 September 2005The red carpet is rolled out every September for the stars attending the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Jerez Autumn Festival, 4-24 SeptemberHead to Jerez, the home of sherry, for a festival celebrating its wine harvest. The queen of the vintage leads the opening parade, followed by children scrambling to catch sweets thrown by her courtiers. Events include horse jumping (Jerez is the horse-capital of Andalucia), flamenco dancing, bullfights, motorcycle races and the blessing of the vines.
Spend your afternoons in a sherry haze at one of the many bodegas, most of which offer tours in English. Tomatoes can only be thrown at designated times and must be crushed first to avoid unnecessary injuries.How to get there EasyJet (0871 750 0100, ) offers return flights from Gatwick to Valencia from around £70.Where to stay Hotel Adhoc Monumental (00 34 96 391 9140; ) has doubles from €95 (£68) with breakfast.Further information 00 34 963 986 000; 8. Having made several attempts to ban the event, the authorities now accept it, but have imposed certain rules. Racing, Sanlucar de Barrameda, 1 & 3 and 16 & 18 August 2005Betting is a serious business throughout August in the southern Andalucian town of Sanlucar de Barrameda. For four days, the sun-loungers and beach balls are cleared from the Bajo de Guia and Las Piletas beaches in preparation for a different kind of beach sport - horse racing.
When the sun begins to set at around 6.30pm and the tide goes out the races begin in earnest, lasting until around 9.30pm. More than 200 horses and riders from all over Europe compete for several million euros of prize money. Spectators can enjoy the local manzanilla and Sanlucar prawns from numerous stalls dotting the makeshift "paddocks".How to get there Ryanair (0871 246 0000; ) flies to Jerez from Stansted for around £70 return.Where to stay Posada de Palacio, calle Caballeros 11, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz (00 34 956 364 840; ) has double rooms from €80 (£57).Further information Sanlucar de Barrameda (00 34 956 366 110; ) 7. La Tomatina, Bu? 31 August 2005Paint the town red (almost literally) at Bu?s La Tomatina - one of Spain's best-loved festivals. More than 30,000 revellers descend on the main square - the Plaza Pueblo de Bu?- to pelt each other with 120,000 tons of tomatoes. It all began in 1945, when a vegetable stand provided the perfect ammunition for an impromptu tomato fight among participants of a passing carnival A rematch was arranged for the following year. This luxury hotel is a former monastery, and was declared a national monument in 1907.
