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Celebrate
Spring
Spring is in the air, so why not welcome
its long-awaited arrival by joining a
celebration in one of our fabulous
destinations? From street parades to
Easter-egg hunts and dazzling firework
shows to endless streams of sherry,
these great cities each see in the new
season in their own unique style.
PARIS
Famed the world over for its beauty
in the springtime and, of course, its
delicious chocolate, Paris is a great
location for families looking for an
Easter break. On Easter Sunday and
Monday, (8–9April), the Château Vaux
Le Vicomte, less than an hour’s drive
south of the city, hosts giant Easter-
egg hunts in its beautiful gardens,
with face painting and free workshops
in chocolate making and origami
also taking place. Also worth a visit is
Fauchon, Paris’s premier chocolate
boutique, full of spectacular and
delicious Easter treats, including eggs,
chickens and bells, all sure to impress
those at home. If, that is, you can resist
eating them yourself!
We fly to Paris
fromBristol, Liverpool, London Luton,
Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and
Belfast from£35.49 one way*.
FLORENCE (fly to Pisa)
As the most important feast in the
Catholic calendar, Easter Sunday is
greatly honoured all across Italy. But
while Rome swells with thousands of
pilgrims all keen to hear the Pope’s
Easter address, an important ceremony
is also taking place in the beautiful
Tuscan city of Florence. Every Easter
morning, crowds gather outside
the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore
Cathedral for the annual Scoppio
del Carro, translating in English to
the Explosion of the Cart, an age-old
Florentine tradition going back to the
Crusades. Awooden cart is laden with
fireworks and pulled from the Porta al
Prato to Piazza Del Duomo by a team
of beautifully decorated white oxen.
Then, at 11am (and with the oxes safely
removed) a mechanical dove becomes
part of the Cathedral’s mass as it leaves
the cart, travels by wire to the altar and
is lit by the Archbishop. The dove then
returns to the cart and a 20-minute
firework display begins as bells ring out
across the city in thanks for the return
of spring and in hopes of an ample
autumn harvest.
The Scoppio del Carro
procession starts at 10amon Easter
Sunday, 8April.We fly to Pisa from
Bristol, London Gatwick and Luton from
£44.49 one way*.
REYKJAVIK
After very little daylight during the long
Icelandic winter, it’s no surprise that the
first day of summer is a national holiday
on this fascinating and bewitching
island.Throughout Reykjavik and
beyond, parades, open-air festivals and
good old-fashioned dancing in the
streetsmark the arrival of this
much-anticipated season, in a fun
and family-friendly fashion. It’s well
worth sticking around after the party
has finished too – although you’ll
probably be a little too late to witness the
celebratedAurora Borealis (Northern
Lights), you will be able to enjoy some
of Iceland’smany other highlights,
including a trip around the Golden
Circle, a dip in the thermal waters of the
Blue Lagoon or even fit in the famous
Reykjavik
rúntur
(pub crawl).The first
day of summer 2012 is celebrated on
19April.
We fly to Reykjavik fromLondon
Luton from£65.49 oneway*.
SEVILLE
For a spring fiesta like no other, head to
the Feria de Abril (
as pictured above
), in
the stunning Spanish city of Seville. This
spectacular five-day party begins when
the town’s mayor turns on 22,000 lights
and ends with an awesome firework
show. Locals give it their all by dressing
in flamboyant costumes – the men
sporting majestic short jackets and
high-waisted trousers and the ladies
adorned in beautiful flamenco dresses
in a range of bright colours. Spain’s
most famous dance forms a big part
of the celebrations, with plenty of
flamenco shows and competitions
taking place, along with lessons for
those wanting to give it a whirl on the
dance floor. Also popular are the sherry
tents that keep the much-loved local
tipple flowing right the way through this
fabulous fiesta, which runs from24-29
April.
Olé
!
We fly to Seville fromLondon Gatwick
from£45.49 one way*.
TRAVELLER
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*Prices one way per person based on 2 people travelling on the same booking. Price correct as at 25January 2012. For travel from1April to 27 October 2012.Additional credit card&baggage fees apply. See easyJet.com for detai
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