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From June 4th to 14th the historic Portuguese city of Santarem will hold the National Agricultural Fair. If the name puts you off, it is important to remember that the festival is a million miles away from the farmers markets you may have seen back home. The Portuguese never do things by halves, and the festival is a celebration of every aspect of their traditional rural culture. The event takes place two kilometres west of the city centre and is one of the largest agricultural fairs in Europe. Attractions include horse riding competitions, cattle herding and a nocturnal bull run. Dancing is also an important part of any celebration in Portugal and you can expect to see an array of local dances, including the fandango.

Bullfighting is a celebrated part of Portuguese culture and is therefore one of the main attractions of the festival. Santarem is surrounded by the lush pasturelands of Planicies, and these plains have a reputation as the spiritual home of bullfighting. The fights themselves are truly spectacular, and are distinct from Spanish bullfighting as the bull is not killed. The bulls themselves are watched over for the rest of the year by Campinos, mounted watchmen who you will be able to spot at the festival by their brightly coloured traditional costumes.

The city of Santarem is an attraction in itself, and lies on the banks of the Tagus river, about 65km northeast of Lisbon. Originally built by the Romans, the city has since been ruled by the Visigoths and the Moors, and also houses the body of the great Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral, who discovered Brazil. Today the city forms the centre of a rich agricultural region, and the festival is a brilliant chance to get a glimpse of traditional Portugal away from the bright lights of the more established tourist haunts.

The agricultural fair is a key event for foodies everywhere, and its tantalising combination of local cuisine and culture attracts thousands each year. A huge variety of food stalls represent the produce from each region of Portugal, and you are guaranteed to find something to tantalize your taste buds. However, accommodation can be in short supply during the festival so it is worth booking in advance. Thomas Cook run flights to Portugal from a number of locations in the UK, and Santarem is the perfect base from which to explore the Ribatejo wine region.