Las Fallas of Valencia is a riotous week of celebration which lights up the streets of the Spanish city. It’s the region’s biggest festival – every year thousands of locals and tourists from around the world go to Valencia to enjoy this fantastic celebration of tradition and colour. Las Fallas is a feisty 7 day festival between 15th and the 19th March. The beautiful city of Valencia is transformed by people taking to the streets to appreciate a myriad of larger-than-life effigies, music, food and more.
It originated in the 18th century to celebrate the city’s patron Saint Joseph, and has since evolved into an epic flaming fiesta. A wide range of activities allow visitors to appreciate the beautiful cosmopolitan city and its breathtaking sights, in a whole new light.
‘Fallas’ is the Spanish name given to the colourful papier-mâché figures, often satirical in nature, built in the city streets of Valencia. These creations often depict a point of view, in a humorous and almost child-like fashion. Undoubtedly the main attraction of the week long festivities, over 700 of these papier-mâché monuments, some towering to 60ft in height, are adored by festival goers over the week and are burnt to a cinder on the last night, ‘La Cremà’.
These spectacular creations are created Valencian artists throughout year. The great sculptors – known as the ‘falleros’ work together over a year long period to create these remarkable pieces of art. The Fallas bring the locals and residents of the different neighbourhoods and towns together with history, tradition and their very talented craftswork.
Although the “fallas” are the focal aspect of the festivities, there is much to be seen and done in this stunning city throughout the celebratory week.
Bands and music can be heard all day all week long – typically traditional Valencian music is performed by many different marching bands throughout the city, accompanying the festival. From 1 to 19 March, every day at 2 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the city vibrates to the sound of the traditional ‘Mascletà’, which is not to be missed! ‘La Mascletà’ is a display of firework and gunpowder explosions, which focuses not only on the visual aspect of the display, but the rhythmic and almost musical stimulation it gives the crowd.
The famous “Nit Del Foc” (Translates to ‘Night of fire”) on the 18th March at 1:30am, is the largest fireworks display of the year in the Valencian region, and takes place next to the Paseo de la Almeda, near the Puente del Flores.
Finally, closing what will be an amazing week of events, ‘La Cremà’ marks the end of the Fallas celebrations in Valencia. People gather to appreciate and reflect on the amazing week by the burning of all of the breath-taking fallas monuments. These are just a few of the highlights of that will be happening in this time. Other activities in the festival program include parades, bull running, competitions. Valencia is a wonderful city of culture, where one can appreciate not only its beauty, but its art, food and gastronomy as well.
