Declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest, the Moors and Christians Festival of La Vila Joiosa is one of Costa Blanca's most spectacular celebrations. Every summer, this sleepy seaside town bursts into life for a week of parades, parties and historical battle re-enactments that'll whisk you straight back to the 16th century. Locals dress up as Moors or Christians, and the whole town gets involved – there's dancing, drumming and enough paella to feed a packed Wembley Stadium. With this transfer ticket, all you need to do is turn up ready to celebrate in style.
Whether you're into history, costumes, or just love a good fiesta, this lively summer event has loads to offer. It's all about celebrating the town's past, when locals fought off a pirate invasion in 1538. Legend has it that Saint Martha, the town's patron saint, stepped in to save the day by flooding the beach and sinking the pirate ships. As a thank you, the townspeople began holding annual celebrations in her honour.
