PICK OF THE WEEK: Andorra (Pyrenees)
Main places:
Andorra la Vella, Escaldes-Engordany, San Julia de Loria, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp, Canillo, Pas de la Casa
PICK OF THE WEEK: Monday, 13th – Sunday, 19th August, 2018
WARNING: 15th AUGUST IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR THE ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. Shops, banks and offices will be closed.
MUSIC
Monday, 13th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with promising young musicians of Andorra in celebration of International Youth Day.
Monday, 13th August at 21:30h in the Church of Sant Esteve, Andorra la Vella. Org&nd Festival 2018: From the Renaissance to today with Brilliant Magnus Quintet (organ, three trumpets and timbales.) The Brilliant Magnus Quintet promises a memorable evening in the church of Sant Esteve. The concert programme is structured in two similar parts. In the first, the Renaissance facet of the group is combined with the premiere of the work La dama blanca de Auvinyà (The White Lady of Auvinyà) especially dedicated to the BMQ, composed by Ignacio Ribas and based on the most deep-rooted legend about the origin of thr protection and the independence of the Principality of Andorra. The second part shows the combination of the habitual baroque repertoire of the BMQ with works by authors of the 20th and 21st centuries, including In Paradisum , composed by C. Paterson in memory of extraordinary trumpeter Javier Martínez.
Tuesday, 14th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with Que Tengo. This is immersion in an original and explosive universe, a music both Latin and urban, texts in Spanish, French and Arabic. Discovering this quartet is like going on a journey!
Tuesday, 14th August at 19:30h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. (Free) Rhythms, Capital Music with the singer, Toni Carlo. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening during August there will be performers of different styles of music and dance, livening up the Av. Meritxell shopping area.
Wednesday, 15th August at 19:30h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with Pirates Rumbversions. Live, fresh and powerful, this unlabelled band of prestigious musicians combine great rumba classics from today and from yesteryear.
Thursday, 16th August at 19:30h in the Plaça de la Rotonda. (Free) Rhythms, Capital Music with the Oleandole – Jazz Tablao. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening during August there will be performers of different styles of music and dance, livening up the Av. Meritxell shopping area.
Thursday, 16th August at 20:30h at Andorra Park Hotel, Andorra la Vella. (55€ for dinner and concert. Reservations:
Tel. +376 877 779 or [email protected]) Concert series of La Pergola Piano Jazz: with Lluís Coloma & Carl Sonny Leyland (two pianos) Joan Margarit (poet): Xavier Cornella (DJ). Carl Sonny Leyland and Lluís Coloma, two of the most original and creative Blues and Boogie Woogie pianists, come together in a new project for two pianos. From an early age, both were touched by rock & roll. Initially attracted by the fascinating boogie woogie rhythms, they began exploring darker styles and expanded their repertoire towards ragtime, barrelhouse, piano sting and other genres born in New Orleans, Chicago or Kansas City. Lluís & Carl were known almost 20 years ago at the Boogie Woogie Festival of La Roca Brau (France), considered one of the most important in this genre.
Since then they have met repeatedly in international contests. After years of mutual admiration, they decided to cut a record together with the prestigious Fresh Sound label. Lluís and Sonny like to fuse styles, respecting the tradition but incorporating new elements in an organic and natural way. In addition, they are composers and each of them has a very unique and personal sound. The duets of Leyland and Coloma contain a great deal of creativity, spontaneity, virtuosity, improvisation and musical dialogue, transporting the listener on unexpected trips full of magic and complicity. An innovative mix of tradition and modernity.
Thursday, 16th August at 21h in the Plaça Coprínceps, Escaldes-Engordany. (Free) Musicians of the World: 34th Festival of the Colours of Music with Etang-Salé-Illa de la Reunion (Twin city with Escaldes-Engordany.) A town in the middle of a volcanic island, a true paradise of mountains covered with lush vegetation and with cascades called the “wedding veil”. A marvellous mix between Africa, India, China and France, which is reproduced in the flavours of Creole cuisine, cari bichiques, (caviar of the island), rougail saucisse , samoussas , and gâteau potatoes. To accompany it, there is a local beer, the Dodo, or a Creole punch! A night of festivity to the sound of Sega and Maloya, a musical trip with Julien Babou.
Friday, 17th August at 22h at the Museum Casa Rull, Sispony, La Massana. (Free but prior booking obligatory on tel.(+376) 836 908) Summer nights at the Museums: Concert Iberian-American fantasy with Albert Pia an international classical guitarist and concert player. He will interpret a programme of works by the great composers for his instrument, such as Tàrrega, Sors, Brouwer and Barrios, which will take us on a voyage through time. A varied, subtle and very emotional programme.
Friday, 17th August at 23h at the cafè teatre La Fada Ignorant, Andorra la Vella. (Pay on the way out) Concert a la Fada: Maurice Gene in acoustic. The repertoire of Maurice Gene, sophisticatedly referenced in the American folk-rock of the 70s, and devoted to the excellence of authors such as Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Tim Buckley, Lucinda Williams, Gram Parsons, Mark Knopfler …, inscribes within an alternative folk, with a personality that is not frequently found in the local scene.
DANCE
Thursday, 16th August, at 15h in the Plaça de l’Església, Pas de la Casa. Summer afternoon at Pas de la Casa with Aloha Polynesian. The Aloha Polynesias group invites you to travel to the archipelago of Polynesia with Tahitian traditional dances such as “Tamouré!”, “Haka” and fire dance… The joy of living comes from moving to their purest traditions.
FESTIVALS
FESTA MAJOR OF LA MASSANA
Tuesday 14th – Thursday 16th August
(Plaça de l’Església = PE, Plaça de les Fontetes PF. Prat de Colat = PC)
TUESDAY: (all in the PE) 18h Bells to initiate the Festa Major. 22h Start of the party: we warmup our ‘motors’ to welcome the night’s entertainment. 23h Concert by Punkers Love the 80’s, who will burn up the night for all the public in the PE. 23h Happy Hour: everything at half price between 23h and 24h in the PE. 01h Concert by the cover versions group from Girona, Campikipugui, with themes from their new album and versions of the best rock of the peninsula in the PE. 3h Party ends with DJ Comimix Edition Festa Major.
WEDNESDAY: 12h Mass of the Mother of God of August in La Massana church of Sant Iscle and Santa Victoria in the PE. 16h Children’s Show in the PC. 17h Botifarra card competition in the bar of Pla de l’Estany. 18h Havanera sea shanties with the Boira Group in the PF. 19:30h Afternoon dance with the orchestra Sabor Sabor in the PE. 21h popular Hamburguesada in the PE. 22:30h Night dance with the with the orchestra Sabor Sabor in the PE.
THURSDAY: Solemn Mass of Sant Roc in the La Massana church of Sant Iscle and Santa Victoria in the PE. After Mass the Honourable Quart of La Massana will offer the traditional aperitif of the Festa Major with the orchestra Sabor Sabor in the PE. 16h Clay pigeon shooting competition at the Pal shooting range. 16h Foam party at the PC. 19h Evening dance in the PE. Followed at 22h with the end of the Festa fireworks spectacular.
FESTA MAJOR OF ENCAMP
Wednesday 15th – Thursday 16th August
WEDNESDAY: 7.30h Fishing Contest in the Cortals of Encamp on the bridge of Rigoder. (Registration in the same place.) 10h – Andorra Cycling Championship for children cycling at the Prat Gran. 11h – 13h Junglepark in the Plaça de les Arínsols (PA). 12h Mass for the Virgin in the Church of Santa Eulalia. 15h Botifarra card contest at the Café del Poble.16h – 19h Junglepark in the PA. 16h Surprise Rally. Departure from the Prat Gran. 17h Children’s show ‘1, 2, 3 … 21 the parents’ and foam party in the PA. 19h Sardana dancing with the Cobla vent de Riella in the PA. 20h Peal of bells in the Church of Santa Eulalia. 21h Xaranga Drum Beat. Departure from PA. 21h Youth Dinner Departure from PA at 20h with batucada. 22.30h Night Ball with the cover version group, La Privada, at the Prat Gran.
THURSDAY: 11h – 13h Junglepark in the Plaça de les Arínsols (PA) 12h Mass of Sant Roc in the Church of Santa Eulalia. When leaving Mass, homage will be paid to Encamp’s oldest padrí (‘godfather’) and padrina (‘godmother’).13.30h Popular lunch at the Prat Gran. 16h – 19h Junglepark in the PA. 17h Children’s show with ‘The last trick’ and foam party in the PA 18h A Show for everyone with Ducati Stunt Show at PA. 19h Evening dance with the orchestra Original at the Gran Prado. 22:30h Closing Fireworks in the carrer Riberaigües.
FESTA DE SANT ROC, CANILLO: Thursday, 16th August
(In the Plaça del Telecabina unless otherwise stated.)
11:30h Solemn Mass. 12:30h Handing out the prize for ‘Flowering of the Parish’ and aperitifs of friendship. 16:30h Magic sand castles and 45 traditional games in the Plaça del Prat del Riu. Children from 4 years upwards can go to a castle to build structures using different, very brightly coloured sands. To do this, they will use moulds of walls, roofs and bridges, as well as pipes and rollers to make construction easier. They will use an innovative material that has the feel of sand, but the consistency of plasticine! In addition, the square will be filled with 45 traditional games divided into six wooden structures, where children, as well as parents, can practice their agility, balance, skill and organization. Here the children will be free to decide for themselves if they want to take part in a sack race or a tug of war, practice with the diábolas or try to walk on stilts, among many other games. 22h Havanera sea shanties and burned rum with the group Olles Barrejades, in Plaça del Prat del Riu. (In case of rain, the activities for children and the Havaneras will take place in the socio-sports building Edifici Perecaus.
FESTA MAJOR OF ARINSAL: Friday 17th – Sunday, 19th August.
(around the village)
FRIDAY: 19h Peal of bells. 19:30h Grand Competition: catch the cheese! The huge cheese, donated by Casa Formatge, is rolled down the Piste de les Marrades chased by a horde of runners. 21h Popular Botifarrada card competition in the Arinsal Social-cultural Centre. 22:20h Special Friday draw with prizes. 22:30h Firecrackers and fireworks. 23h Old School in concert. 12mn: Party of the 80s. A free xupito (shot) for all those who come in 80s fancy dress followed by a disco.
SATURDAY: 10h Festa Major Street market. 11h Traditional football match: Marrieds vs Singles. 12h Aperitif route via various village bars. 16:30h Andorran Highlands Challenge Circuit 4 Viking trials. 17:30h SuperDry colour festival. Coloured powders, foam party and music for all to enjoy a perfect afternoon in the Telecabina parking. 19h Evening dance accompanied by Saldo. 22:30h Night dance with Saldo and the cover version group Band the Cool. 02h Disco until you’re thrown out…
SUNDAY: 10h Festa Major Street market. 11h 7th Pump track Championship at the Arinsal BMX communal circuit. 13h Solemn Mass and aperitif for all. 17h Children’s festival + chocolate and coca sweet cake. 18:30h Evening dance with the orchestra Dia i Nit to close the festival.
CINEMA
Monday 13th – Thursday, 16th August at 19h at the Cinemes Illa Carlemanya, Escaldes-Engordany. (over 18s only) The Equalizer 2 (2018). Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Starring Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders. The Story: Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
CHILDREN
Monday, 13th August at 15h in the Plaça de l’Església of Pas de la Casa. Big Splash Party. Fun park with more than 20 water games and 2 refreshing inflatables. Scale buckets, balloon targets, pool with rubber ducks, refreshing arches, ingenious games, inflatable sports, inflatable footbridge and slide and traditional games.
Wednesday, 15th August at 16:30h in the parking at Prat del Riu, Canillo. Games for the little ones. Combination of games that will leave no one sitting in their seats! We want all the babies that visit us and follow the children’s activities, to spend the afternoon with their father, mother, brother, grandfather, grandmother – out of the car! Children aged from 0 to 3 will enter into a bubble of sensations formed by 15 pitches of 7m diameter of soft ground, designed exclusively for them. By means of the games they will stimulate the senses (touch, hearing, sight).
Each panel proposes a different game that the smaller ones will have to overcome with the help of their parents. In one of the games, they will have to open and close zips, buttons, adhesive strips … In another, they will have to place and remove balls of different sizes and colours, in others they will have to place and remove magnetic pieces, hide in a dark house, look for a room hidden in the windows, touch the giant xylophone … In addition, the square will be filled with 45 traditional games divided into six wooden structures, where children, as well as their parents, can practice their agility, balance, skill and organization. Here the children will be free to decide for themselves if they want to take part in a sack race or tug of war, practice with the diábolas or try to walk on stilts.
OTHER
Friday 17th and Saturday, 18th August at 21:30h at the Iron mine in Llorts, Ordino. (Tickets and prior booking obligatory on tel. (+376) 878 173.) Summer Nights in the Museums: a night visit to the Llorts iron mine and the Iron Way. Visit the interior of an ancient, 30-meter-long iron mine, walk along the Iron Way with headlamps and discover an outdoor sculpture exhibition. It is recommended to wear a headlamp. Approximate duration two hours and 30 minutes.
Saturday, 18th August at 20h at the Historic Centre of Andorra la Vella. (Prior booking and sale of tickets at the Tourist Office, Andorra la Vella. Tel 750 100) Don Francisco de Zamora. A dramatized visit to the Historic Centre (in Catalan) with Don Francisco de Zamora who will explain his Andorran adventures and who will transport us for a few moments to Andorra at the end of the 18th century.
Culturally yours,
Clare.
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Look for about the author of the blog Clare Allcard
See also Andorra travel guide
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
