Ten-day passion-filled celebration of Celestina takes over every street and corner in Puebla de Montalbán, Toledo
XXVII Festival Celestina. The Spain of Rojas to Take Place in La Puebla de Montalbán from August 22 to 31
The charming town of La Puebla de Montalbán, in Toledo, Spain, will once again come to life with the XXVII edition of the Festival Celestina. The Spain of Rojas. This year's event, taking place from August 22 to 31, promises a rich and diverse programme, featuring more than 100 performances across 14 unique stages[1][2].
The festival, a tribute to Fernando de Rojas and his masterpiece "La Celestina", celebrates Spanish Golden Age literature and heritage with theatre, music, dance, and traditional gastronomy[1][2]. The programme includes academic conferences, a wide variety of theatrical shows, cultural markets, and special night events in historic settings.
The main event takes place in Plaza Mayor, with a free theatrical performance that culminates in an emotional night spectacle at Torre de San Miguel[1][2]. The expanded Celestinesco Market will bring the town’s Golden Age atmosphere alive, featuring parades, storytelling, fire shows, falconry, and traditional gastronomy[2].
The II International Research, Dissemination, and Transfer Days will be dedicated to "Fernando de Rojas and the Sephardic tradition", organized with the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the Spanish Society of Medieval Studies[1][2]. This event is both in-person and online and aims to deepen the cultural heritage of Fernando de Rojas and La Puebla.
The festival also resumes the series dedicated to illustrious Pueblos, with a focus on Pedro Bermudo this year[3]. A free concert, Essentia, by Ana Alcaide, will be held on August 23 in the Plaza Mayor, inspired by the Sephardic heritage of the locality[3].
The entire town transforms into an open-air theater where unique shows take place in extraordinary spaces, especially the magical caves, supporting local actors and cultural preservation through ticket sales[1]. The full program for the festival, including the Entretapas Days, the festival's gastronomic proposal, is available on the Festival Celestina website[4].
The festival is one of the most important cultural and tourist references in the province, capable of uniting heritage, history, culture, and spectacle in a single event[3]. The Mayor of La Puebla de Montalbán, Soledad Frutos, and the Vice President of the Toledo Provincial Council, Joaquín Romera, have presented this new edition, expressing their gratitude for the support of the Council[5].
David Martín, the Councilor for Culture, explained the link between Sephardic heritage and Fernando de Rojas, while Pablo Justo, the new general coordinator of the festival, noted his long-standing involvement in the event[5]. The playwright, Luis María García, highlighted the innovations and homegrown shows in this edition[6]. The Celestina Prize 2025 will be awarded to actress Petra Martínez for her career and commitment to the performing arts[7].
In summary, the festival mixes academic conferences, a wide variety of theatrical shows, cultural markets, and special night events in historic settings, engaging locals and visitors in a comprehensive celebration of 15th-16th century Spanish literary and cultural heritage.
[1] https://www.festivalcelestina.es/ [2] https://www.festivalcelestina.es/programa/ [3] https://www.festivalcelestina.es/noticias/ [4] https://www.festivalcelestina.es/descargas/ [5] https://www.laserdes.es/noticias/la-puebla-de-montalban-anuncia-la-xxvii-edicion-del-festival-celestina-el-espana-de-rojas/ [6] https://www.laserdes.es/noticias/festival-celestina-2023-anuncia-su-programacion/ [7] https://www.festivalcelestina.es/premios/
- Amidst the vibrant town of La Puebla de Montalbán, the Festival Celestina, celebrating the Spanish Golden Age, offers more than just literature through performances, academic conferences, cultural markets, traditional gastronomy, and special night events in historic settings, all taking place from August 22 to 31.
- The festival also showcases a fusion of art and lifestyle, with unique shows taking place in extraordinary spaces, such as magical caves, and supports local actors and cultural preservation through ticket sales.
- In addition to these, the festival provides an immersive travel experience, as the entire town transforms into an open-air theater, featuring food-and-drink, home-and-garden, fashion-and-beauty, and a glimpse into the Sephardic tradition.
