Siesta in Spain

For the first time finding himself under the bright Spanish sky and having received a lot of positive emotions, the inexperienced tourist with surprise notes that in the heat of the day the streets of cities and towns seem to die out, and many sights become inaccessible, being locked safely under the castle ... What happened and where all disappeared ? Nothing extraordinary, it's just the siesta time. The peculiarities of the siesta, this typically Spanish phenomenon, will be discussed in our article.

What is a siesta?

It's no secret that the way of life of any people is directly related to the climatic features in the place of its residence. It is because of the hot climate, mercilessly scorching sun and hot winds and there was a phenomenon in Spain such as siesta. What is this phenomenon, this "mysterious" siesta? Siesta is nothing more than a lunch break, which includes an afternoon rest. Nature has awarded Spain such a baking fever that any work in the afternoon is simply impossible. Agree that collecting oranges, working in the garden or processing crops at an air temperature above 40 degrees in the shade is not only not productive, but also dangerous for life. Yes, there to work, even just being on the street at this temperature is very difficult. Even the wind does not bring the desired relief, but simply burns the skin. That is why, at a time when the sun is very hot, the locals indulge in relaxation behind tightly closed doors and lowered shutters to start work again in the evening. Of course, thanks to the appearance of air conditioners, the heat no longer frightens those who work in the premises, so the tradition of the siesta is gradually leaving. But still, many institutions close their doors in the afternoon to reopen when the heat on the street goes to waste. That's why when planning your trip to Spain, and especially for Spain's provincial, it is necessary to take into account in your schedule the siesta, because at this time it will not happen to visit any museum, go shopping or relax in a cafe.

How long is the siesta in Spain?

What time is it for the siesta in Spain? Unfortunately, it does not follow a single timetable throughout the country, and in different parts of Spain it begins and ends in different ways. In order not to get trapped, a tourist should specify in advance what time of siesta is exactly in the city where his path lies. The duration of the afternoon rest is influenced by many different factors: local traditions, the influx of tourists, the infrastructure of the city. As a rule, in the life of major tourist centers, such as Barcelona or Salou, the afternoon siesta does not at all affect: at any time of the day life here beats the key, and the services of tourists are a thousand and one entertainment. Even if small shops and museums close in the afternoon to a siesta, the large shopping and entertainment centers work without interruption. In small Spanish towns during the siesta in the streets is empty and silent, and all shops and shopping centers are securely closed. Here you can wander for hours on the deserted streets, not finding on its way, not a single local resident. Approximately the duration of the siesta in different regions and cities of Spain is as follows:

• in Barcelona, ​​Salou, Valencia, some institutions are closed for siesta from 14-00 to 17-00;
• Cadiz, Malaga , Tarifa, Marbella indulge in an afternoon rest from 13-00 to 17-30;
• San Sebastian, Pamplona, ​​Bilbao and other northern regions rest the least day - here the siesta lasts from 13-00 to 15-00.