Ever been to Las Fallas? Now is your time! These festivities are one of the most popular and well-known in Spain, celebrated each year in honour of San José, the patron saint of Valencia. Ready to hear all about Las Fallas? What are you waiting for?
The Fallas is a typical festivity held in Valencia dating back for than a century. Over the course of a week, the city is invaded by giant monuments made from papier-mâché and wood, depicting different scenes of everyday life with lots of humour and satire.
The Fallas monuments are built throughout the year and are exhibited on the street during Las Fallas week. On the final day of the festivities, 19 March, they are burned in a purification and renewal ritual, as part of an impressive spectacle that attracts thousands of people from across the globe. Sounds tempting, right?
If you are a party lover, make sure not to miss out on the mascletà, a firework display held every day at two in the afternoon in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The mascletà is a Valencian tradition that dates back to the nineteenth century and sees a succession of firecrackers and fireworks explode to the rhythm of the music.
As well as the mascletà, a variety of parades and festivals are held during Las Fallas, which see falleros and falleras parade with their traditional costumes and their music groups. One of the most stirring moments of Las Fallas is the Flower Offering, a parade which sees falleras and falleros carry bouquets of flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados, the patron saint of Valencia.
As if that were not enough, during Las Fallas, Valencia is converted into an open-air museum. You can strolls the city's streets and take in its Fallas monuments, which depict everyday scenes with lots of humour and satire. Each Falla has its own theme and name, with the official Falla, the largest and most spectacular of them all, located outside City Hall.
Discover Las Fallas, a festival of light and colour! Make sure not to miss out on these festivities bursting with so much Spanish culture; there must be good reason for them to receive so many visitors from across the country, right?
During Las Fallas, Valencian gastronomy takes centre stage, and it's no wonder, to keep your energy levels up... you have to have something to eat! And what better way to do so than trying typical Valencian gastronomy during Las Fallas. Here are a few of its typical dishes:
What's more, during Las Fallas you'll many street stalls selling exactly what you're looking for, including esmorzaret, a famous sausage sandwich that is very popular during Las Fallas.
During Las Fallas, visitors can take in firework displays, parades, music, dancing and, of course, the Fallas monuments. It is also the perfect change to sample delicious Valencian cuisine, one of the city's biggest attractions.
It is a unique moment on the Spanish cultural calendar, when people from all over the world visit the city and let their inner child out. There must be a reason for it being so famous and popular, right? Mark the date on your calendar and enjoy one of Spain's most characteristic festivities!
If you are planning on visiting Valencia, we have good news for you! The city has two main train stations that offer access to the city's attractions in a fast, comfortable and sustainable way.
The first is València Joaquín Sorolla station, used for AVE and Larga Distancia (long distance high-speed) routes to destinations including Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante. And the second is Valencia Nord station, which is the stop for other routes, Media Distancia (Mid-distance) and Cercanías (commuter trains).
So, if you're ready to discover everything that Valencia has to offer, don't think twice about it! Travelling by train couldn't be easier, making for a convenient way to get around the city. And with so many options to choose from, there's no excuse for not exploring everything that this beautiful city has to offer!
Discover our main routes and plan your trip in advance. What are you waiting for?