Fallas of Valencia

If you are thinking of visiting Valencia in March, you may be interested in seeing the Fallas, but you may not fully understand the dynamics. That is why, at Sea You Hotel, we are going to summarise in this post the key points of the Fallas so that you can experience them to the fullest.

Las Fallas are the most important festival in Valencia, celebrated in March (the most important days being from the 15th to the 19th) and were declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2016. During these days, fire, music and art flood the streets of the city.

The term fallas is used to define the festivals, the monuments that are installed on each street and also the groups of people who celebrate the festivals.

If we talk about art, the fallas are spectacular monuments made of cardboard, wood and other materials that can reach up to 20 meters height. These monuments usually have some kind of social, political or cultural criticism and are installed in all the neighborhoods of the city.

If we talk about fallas, the “comisiones falleras” are groups, generally people of the same neighbourhood, that come together to celebrate the Fallas. Each of these fallas sets up a monument and organises different parties and events on the days of the celebration.

As we have said, the Fallas start on March 1st (or even a few days earlier with the Cridà). However, the big days start around March 15th. As there are many Fallas events, we are going to talk about our favourites so that you can enjoy the ones that are celebrated on the days you are in Valencia.

We will start with the mascletà, which is one of the most special events for Valencians. Every day, from March 1st to the 19th at 2pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, around 300 kilos of gunpowder are fired for about 10 minutes. An incomparable sensory spectacle with a deafening noise and vibration that leaves no one indifferent.

The plantà takes place on the evening of 15 March and marks the moment from which you can see the completed fallas (monuments). The city becomes an open-air museum from that evening onwards. In the days leading up to it, you'll see the streets filled with Fallas artists working against the clock to make them perfect.

The ofrena is a parade in which thousands of falleros and falleras take flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados, the patron saint of the city, on the 17th and 18th. All these bouquets of flowers are used to make the Virgin's mantle, which is placed in the Plaza de la Virgen.

The Nit del foc is the night of March 18th when the biggest fireworks display of all the Fallas is set off. People gather near the Turia Park to enjoy a unique spectacle.

The final act of the Fallas, when everything ends and begins again, is the “cremà”. On the night of March 19, the festivities end with the burning of the Fallas monuments. Valencians gather to watch how the fire consumes this ephemeral art in the night that gives meaning to the Fallas.

If you are thinking of visiting Valencia during the Fallas, we are going to give you some tips so that you can enjoy them to the fullest like a true Valencian.

Experiencing Fallas can be overwhelming if you've never been before. The city is packed with people wanting to enjoy the festivities and at times it can turn into a bit of chaos.

It is difficult to get around by public transport, especially at certain times of the day, as many streets are closed for many of the events we have explained above. So, travel with plenty of time (especially if you have to be somewhere at a certain time) and dress comfortably because you will probably have to walk a lot. This comfort is important and is also maintained at the night festivals where the falleros (and those who are not) dress very casually.

Enjoy Valencian cuisine. Take advantage of these days to enjoy classics such as Valencian paella and typical Fallas dishes such as pumpkin fritters (buñuelos) with chocolate.

Finally, accommodation can be difficult at this time of year, as we have already mentioned, the city is very congested. Therefore, we recommend booking your accommodation in advance to ensure that you do not have any problems. Although the entire city celebrates the festivities with great enthusiasm, the centre is particularly congested. Therefore, staying at Sea You Hotel is the ideal option, as it is well connected, but in a quieter area.