12
Sep
Discover the Mozarabic Way of St James
12 September 2024
Today's Real Feria de San Mateo stems from a privilege granted to the city by Charles II, dated in Madrid on 16 March 1688. It has always been held around 21 September, the saint's feast day, although the exact date has shifted over the years to fit in with nearby fairs and, more recently, to make use of weekends and cause less disruption to working life.
Although originally an exclusively agricultural and livestock event, over the centuries, as this activity lost importance, other elements have grown in prominence, such as trade, industry and entertainment at the fairground, based on rides for children and adults, and on public, institutional and private stalls. Livestock is still present, especially sport horses.