During the second week of July (almost the same time as the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona), locals in Denia celebrate the patron saint festivities in honor of the Santísima Sangre. The best part of the bull runs which start in the town's highest point (La Glorieta) and end up in a semi-circle, temporary bullring in the port (the second half of which is the sea itself). The goal of the party is that the participants coax the bull into jumping into the water.
It is a festival that attracts many locals and people from the neighboring provinces, and many foreigners who are vacationing in the area. It is not harmful to the animals, as there is a medical team on-hand for them, apart from the fact that they swim pretty well, and for participants it is exciting and refreshing. Both my daughters and I have attended a few years and at least for us it was fun ...
Los Bous a la Mar is a patron saint festival, deemed of National Touristic Interest, which is celebrated in Dénia during the Santísima Sangre celebrations in the second half of July. Aside from the bull runs, the highlight of the festival is the "bullfight," but in this case the participants try to get the bulls to jump into the water. The festivities are held in Denia, and coastal area, and the docks remain open.
