Guide of Valencia for the America's Cup 2007

Search for available accommodation in Valencia, and Book online  Register your property to let for the America's Cup in Valencia, fill in our form	VALENCIA'S FIESTAS       LAS FALLAS Bright lights, gunpowder, immense satirical effigies, flowers, costume, colour, music, dancing, emotion and joy all come together to complete an atmosphere of fun, folklore and fantasy during Valencia´s, even Spain´s, biggest fiesta of the year... Las Fallas takes place in March in celebration of the coming of Spring and in the run up to the San José celebrations on 19th. Born of humble beginnings (the city´s carpenters used to burn the wooden poles they hung their lanterns on to work by during the winter) the tradition has culminated into an immense international festival to which nearly a million Spaniards and foreigners flock, with the numbers soaring every year.   Traditionalists, party people and pyromaniacs – the latter of the two genreally presenting themselves as much of a muchness – all gather together to join in the fun and action packed festivities:   A ´Fallera Mayor´ and a ´Fallera Mayor Infantil´ (effectively an adult and a child carnival queen) are elected to represent the people throughout the preceding year. They dress in traditional costume made of local lace, silk and satin that are vividly colourful and adorned with gold decoration. Many a ceremony and service is performed in various official and religious locations throughout the city, the most prominent of which has to be the ´Mascletà´. Taking place at 2pm sharp every day of the celebrations, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to enjoy the ´music´ composed by these daytime firework displays, that are heard for miles around. As much as the idea of daytime pyrotechnics may seem bizarre, the colours from the smoke and the noise created by the explosions have developped into a veritable artform with a competition held each year for the most spectacular performance. (pic: mascletà) For a week the city is over-run by immense statues, some more than 6 stories high and costing anything between 10,000 and 600,000 Euros. These papier maché statues, or Ninots, are satirical or symbolic effigies in a style that lies somewhere between those of Walt Disney, Bo´ Selecta and the film Roger Rabbit. To an outsider it can seem rather a waste, even somewhat sadistic, that so much effort and capital is put into something that will inevitably be destroyed...but that is exactly the intention. At midnight, or some time soon after (we are in Spain after all!) on the night of the feast of San Juan, Valencians and foreigners of all ages gather in various locations all over the city to watch the magnificent figures go up in flames in what is called the ´Cremà´, and thus the story ends.   While these ritualistic traditions still hold strong, the social, party ambiance is becoming more and more intense each year. Botellóns, or street parties, are held in all corners of the city every night without fail, marquees are erected to sell beer and snacks, paella is served straight from the pan in the middle of the street and fireworks (some of the best you´ll ever see) are set off incessantly.   A stay in Valencia between 13th and 19th March is guaranteed to be a busy and exciting, if sleepless, week for all!     LA TOMATINA The Tomatina is a bizarre and extravagant festival that takes place in August in the little town of Buñol, near Valencia. Armed with some 140 tonnes of tomatoes, locals and tourists alike enter into a merciless war and nobody emerges unscathed and stain free.   The mood is crazy but light-hearted as the people continue to throw tomatoes at one another for more than an hour. By the time the battle has ceased every street, wall and passerby is covered with tomatoes and their juices - so it is best advised to come UNdressed for the occasion! However, the tomatina is not a stand-alone event. It is part of a week long festival of music, fireworks and local cuisine, amongst other things. Becoming more and more popular with foreigners every year, the last festival drew some 30,000 people to the town last year. In order to avoid any mishaps, a number of simple rules have been introduced: Bottles or other potentially dangerous objects are prohibited, rippiing other people´s clothes is banned and the tomatoes must be squashed before being thrown to avoid any excessive bruising or other injuries. If you are tempted by this 60 year old tradition make sure you book your stay well in advance as what little the town of Buñol has in the way of lodgings goes like hotcakes months before!   While these ritualistic traditions still hold strong, the social, party ambiance is becoming more and more intense each year. Botellóns, or street parties, are held in all corners of the city every night without fail, marquees are erected to sell beer and snacks, paella is served straight from the pan in the middle of the street and fireworks (some of the best you´ll ever see) are set off incessantly.     LA NOCHE DE SAN JUAN Every year the festival of San Juan is commemorated throughout Spain during the night of 23rd and 24th June, and Valencia is no exception. The city´s beaches fill up with thousands of people coming together to celebrate in lively and fun-loving atmosphere.   Marking the summer solstice San Juan celebtrates the shortest night of the year and represents light´s victory over dark. The festival is associated with numerous mystical beliefs and rituals: At precisely midnight, those not sensitive to the cold throw themselves into the water to jump over the 9 waves and make the 3 wishes that tradition imposes. The beach is lined with campfires, some of which are used to barbecue a feast, sending a mouth-watering, summer smell the length of La Malvarossa. Another rather strange ritual calls people to jump over a campfire 3 times, thus guaranteeing them a good year to come. These fires also prove very useful to help you warm up after the cold midnight swim. Whether you claim to be superstitious or not this, the first of many summer parties, is a fantastic opportunity for an unforgettable experience on the sunny Costa Azahar.     For more information about the fiestas de valencia : http://www.valenciavalencia.com/