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Published: March 21st 2007
I was lucky enough, before I embarked on my round the world trip to get to Valencia to celebrate Las Fallas in March. Thanks to my childhood friends Kerry/Matt and his lovely new wife Irina for the hospitality and showing me the sites.
Translated Las Fallas means "the fires" and it certainly is a pyrotechnics dream. This festival has to be one of the craziest and most unique festivals in Europe.
Huge statues are built and placed in all the suburbs around the city. These statues known as ninots can be upto 5 stories high, and can take upto 6 months to build and the cost can reach $70,000! These statues are on display for 2 weeks and they usually depict corrupt politicians, satirical scenes and spanish celebrities. On the last day of Fallas these are filled with fireworks and are set alight usually at midnight.
Leading up to this event everyone in the town becomes a pyrotechnic, bangers are let off by anyone aged from 3-90, it’s an amazing site and the loud bangs don’t appear to stop. You wake up early to the distant sound of bangs and they are still going off at 3
or 4 in the morning when you stagger home after a hard night on the drink and watching the fireworks in the main square. It something which back in the UK just wouldn’t happen the health and safety brigade would have a field day. There are also many street parades everyday, the people involved are in traditional Spanish dress, these are very beautiful and detailed. They walk along to the sound of beating drums, whistles, and trumpets, heading towards the centre where the virgin Madonna is. The flowers that they bring are then used to construct the huge Madonna.
At 2pm in the main square mascletà begins, translated mascletà means "an explosive display of the concussive effects of co-ordinated firecracker and fireworks barrages" and it is huge. The power of this is unbelievable, as the fireworks and bangers are let off you physically shake with each explosion, the windows of the nearby buildings bow in and out, and the last crescendo of noise almost leaves you stunned and senseless for several seconds. This is greeted with a huge cheer from the crowd.
Valencia offers so much more aswell, the park that runs thru the city is
stunning, and heavily used it and is home to the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), which contains a science museum, IMAX cinema and oceanographic park. Check out the pictures. I have since found out that the architect Santiago Calatrava was who was responsible for these buildings also built the turning torso in Malmo/Sweden, which I have visited.
Valencia is also currently hosting the Americas Cup, which is the most famous sailing regatta in the world. After Swiss Boat Alinghi, sailed to victory in New Zealand 2003 they brought the event back to Europe for the first time in 150 years. This is a major coup for Valencia.
The actual harbour is beautiful and has many bars around, where you can soak up the sun and atmosphere and enjoy an amstel or estella beer. We were very lucky to be invited onto a boat in the Harbour, courtesy of Matthews contacts. This was a very beautiful boat and thanks goto the hospitality of Captain Ian and 1st Mate Andrew who are both Kiwi and had many interesting stories to tell.
Also hello to Maria, Helen and sorry forgot you name!
LOL. The three Latvians who came out with us on the Saturday and Monday night. Top Company and you girls can really drink!
So with Valencia out of the way, I now have 2 and a bit weeks to go until we fly. We have a couple of leaving parties planned pictures and gossip will obviously follow. And because im out of the country for a year anything goes be warned!!!!!
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Twitchy
non-member comment
Excellant!
Well done mate, an excellant review and from what I read sounds an unmissable event in itself. Gooda Luck for the rest I your trip I will keep checking back here for all the updates. As for pictures, they are great to (only to be expected, of course).