6 things you should not miss in Valencia in Fallas
March finally arrives, and with it we abandon the cold of winter and the weather begins to change. The days are longer, we begin to have more than enough jackets and turtlenecks…
In Valencia, moreover, a strange phenomenon occurs that fills the streets with the smell of gunpowder, firecrackers that explode everywhere, brass bands and batucadas almost on every corner, bands blocking the streets, giant monuments making fun of everything (politics, sports, celebrities… anything goes) and the fact is that, with March, the month of fallas arrives in Valencia.
When are the fallas in Valencia?
It should be said that officially they are from 15 to 19, although almost a week before the mascletàs and festivals begin.
Although if you really want to experience the festivities in all their heyday, the dates on which you have to plan your trip must be between March 15 and 19.
And, what is it that you absolutely must not miss during the time of failures?
Here are 6 essentials!
The mascleta
It would be unforgivable to visit Valencia in fallas and not experience any mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Every day at 2:00 p.m. since March 1, thousands and thousands of Valencians gather to see the mascletà.
A whole festival of noise and gunpowder in which thousands of strategically placed firecrackers explode generating different rhythms. The best of all is its ending in which it seems that the ground shakes. Don’t forget to open your mouth if your ears get clogged!
The Offering, the Nit del Foc and the Lights of Russafa
On the 17th and 18th, Falleros arrive from all the Fallas to deliver their bouquets to complete the giant mantle of the patron saint of Valencia, in the same Plaza de la Virgen.
Finding a place at the entrance to the square is complicated, so if you can’t get there, there is always the option of waiting for you at 19 and walking around the square and seeing it up close.
Every night from 15 to 19 castles are launched from the river.
The castles are to the eye the same as the mascletà is to the ears, spectacles of light, color and also noise every night.
The final culmination is the night of March 18, known as the ‘Nit del foc’ (night of fire), the castle begins at 01.00 and is usually the most impressive of all.
Also noteworthy are the lights of Russafa.
The lights that mount some fallas in this neighborhood are usually proclaimed champions every year.
So it is well worth walking through one of these streets under the mantle of thousands and thousands of light bulbs of all colors that each year refer to a different place.
Failures, failures and more failures. and the cream
One thing you have to be clear about, it is impossible to visit them all, so you can always start with the grand prizes, the most impressive and gigantic. And when you get tired of seeing those, you can move on to smaller ones, the popular failures, humbler in size but just as (or more) fierce in criticism. The best time to visit them without being overwhelmed by people, when the festivals end at night accompanied by a good chocolate with churros!
Everything in this life has an end, the Cream, and failures could not be less. So on the night of the 19th they all burn, leaving a beautiful show and a bittersweet taste in the mouth. But don’t be discouraged, because in a year they will be back!
I hope that these proposals will help you not to miss any of the failures! That yes, if you can add to all this to enjoy a good verbena fallera with popular prices and an afternoon of orxata i fartons, you will have already fulfilled!
Do you want to know what else you can do in fallas? Ask! =) And if fallas are not your thing, Valencia still has many reasons to visit, but that will be another post! Thanks so much for reading!
