If you really love adventure travel and are thinking about a trip to Valencia — one of the most beautiful and amazing cities in Spain, Las Fallas or the ‘Festival of Fire’ can be a perfect reason for your visit. Along with Tomatina Tomato Fight (another crazy Valenciana festival that will surely be posted in our future blogs) Las Fallas is one of the most famous Spanish fiestas, celebrated each year in March (between 15 and 19) to commemorate St. Joseph’s Day, the patron of Valencia and the saint of carpenters.
This is a unique celebration found nowhere else on Earth, focusing on the creation and destruction of ninots – the so called ‘puppets’ or ‘dolls,’ which are enormous cardboard, wood, papier-machè and plaster statues that are extremely lifelike and usually portray political and well-known artists and depict bawdy, satirical scenes and current events. Many ninots are several stories tall and are moved into their final location with the help of cranes on the day of la plantà (the rising) remaining there until March 19, the day known as La Cremà (the burning). But before they are burned, the Fallas are on display in more than 350 key intersections and parks around the city.
Every day of the Fallas begins with La Despertà (a starting wake-up call) at the ridiculous time of 8am, when brass bands march down the streets accompanied by loud firecrackers, which themselves activate car and shop alarms to make sure you’re ready for a day’s fun and amusement. An important part of Las Fallas are, however, the fabulous dresses that many Valencian women and children wear during various parades, enormous street parties and beauty shows. Another highlight of the festival is the 2pm daily ‘mascleta’ (an explosive display) that is held in the Town Hall square, where the ground literally shakes for about ten minutes following the ignition of a huge pile of firecrackers. Smaller mascletas are also held around the city of Valencia and the neighboring villages. During mascletas approximately 160kg of gunpowder explodes.
Do not miss out the paella contest in the streets, which is an unofficial part of Las Fallas that takes place towards the beginning of March before the principal festivities begin. Paella is a famous dish invented in this region. Another must-visit place is, no doubt, the Las Fallas Museum at Plaza Monteolivete, though it’s not that much easy to get to during the festival, as many roads in the city are cut off for the week.
On March 19, at midnight, the dramatic closing act takes place and those fantastic figurines that were created for several months are all set ablaze and destroyed except for only one, saved by the votes of the falleros that is preserved forever in the Fallero Museum.
Accommodation options in Valencia and the surrounding areas sell out many months before this wonderful event, so make sure to book well in advance. Head to the crazy city of Valencia, where the most incredible festivals are the norm rather than the exception, and experience a truly different vacation you’ll never forget!
