Carnival in Barcelona
Barcelona, 11 - 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Carnival in Barcelona, timed just before the Lenten fast, is spent indulging in soon-to-be-forbidden pleasures. The city streets become a stage for lively celebrations, from tortilla-making competitions to the all-singing, all-dancing Gran Rua de Carnaval parade.
Seville Marathon
Estadio Olímpico de Sevilla, Seville, 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Starting and finishing at the Olympic Stadium, the Seville Marathon was established in 1985 and attracts an increasing number of athletes, spectators and volunteers each year. The gruelling 26-mile (42km) route passes many of the city's famous sights.
Markina-Xemein Carnival
Markina-Xemein, 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Markina-Xemein's carnival celebrations begin with a group of young dancers performing the traditional Basque zahagi-dantza dance throughout the town. The troupe includes a large bear (thankfully not real) and his handler, whose attempts to ward off ghosts and frighten children.
Barcelona Half Marathon
Barcelona, 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Barcelona's Half Marathon gets the city warmed up before the full marathon takes place in early March. Starting at the Passeig de Picasso street and ending at the Arc de Triomf, the 21,097-metre race attracts both professional and amateur runners.
Hurta Cordel: International Festival of Improvisation
La Casa Encendida, Madrid, 9 - 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Every year, experimental music takes centre stage at Madrid's La Casa Encendida during Hurta Cordel, the International Festival of Improvisation. Contemporary musicians from across the world take part in the spontaneous evening performances, which sometimes include video and dance.
Los Cristianos Carnival
Los Cristianos, 5 - 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
Los Cristianos stages one of Tenerife's smaller carnivals, but that's not to say you should overlook it. The events are typical of Spanish pre-Lenten celebrations, with the crowning of the carnival queen and lively costumed parades.
Caldereros Fiesta
Tolosa, 13 - 14 Feb 2010 (annual)
The Caldereros Fiesta in Tolosa commemorates the migrating Hungarian gypsies who returned every year to sell their goods. Locals re-enact the tradition of the gypsies' entrance into the town by hammering out the tunes of traditional songs on frying pans.
Picasso: Erotic Prints
Picasso Museum, Barcelona, 5 Nov 2009 - 14 Feb 2010; not Mon
Barcelona's Picasso Museum displays erotic prints produced by the artist between 1964 and 1970, a time when all his creations carried sexually explicit themes. The exhibition also features Japanese shunga prints that bear a strong resemblance to Picasso's works.
Día de Los Indianos
Santa Cruz de La Palma, 15 Feb 2010 (annual)
Santa Cruz de La Palma celebrates Carnival Monday with a rather unusual pre-Lenten tradition. During the Día de los Indianos (Day of the Indians), crowds of around 60,000 take to the streets for an immense talcum powder fight.
Pero Palo
Villanueva de La Vera, 13 - 16 Feb 2010 (annual)
The ritual celebration of Pero Palo in Villanueva de La Vera is an incredible spectacle of genuine Spanish culture. Every year the townspeople parade the straw figure of Pero Palo, dressed from head to toe in black, around town.