VALENCIA

Av. Cortes Valencianas, 41. 46015 Valencia.Tel: 34-963 390 390 · Fax: 34-963 606 430E-mail: turisvalencia@turisvalencia.es · www.turisvalencia.es

EXPERIENCE THE FALLAS

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On spring evenings, when the days started to grow longer,it was no longer necessary to work during the hours ofdarkness and the parot, a traditional lamp used to light theworkshop during the winter, was burnt at the door of everyworkshop. The craftsmen gathered together wood shavingsand gash wood which they fed to the fire along with junkbrought by the people of the neighbourhood. The uprightsand arms of the parot, estai or pagés, were animated withrags and old clothing, giving the lamp a human aspect, theaddition of a hat provided it with a kind of head. And so theNinot, or doll-like effigy, was born. It only remained for theseeffigies, based on whatever farce was gripping theneighbourhood, the city, the country or the world, to be placedon a pedestal –all the better to be seen and mocked. Anotherfactor in understanding these ingenious sculptured structuresis the llibret, a booklet containing an explanation of the “subjectand theme of the Falla” in verse form. An authentic ValencianFalla consists in the combination of all these creative elements.

THE ORIGIN OF THE FALLASWITH THOUSANDS OF LIGHT BULBS STRUNG INGARLANDS AND HANGING FROM COLUMNS,VALENCIA, IN ALL ITS VIVACIOUS SPLENDOURAND AMIDST THE EAGER REVELRY OF ITS PEOPLE,STAGES THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF FESTIVALS:THE GREAT, DRAMATISED PANTOMIME OF LIFE,WHERE CURRENT EVENTS ARE SATIRISED: THEFALLAS.

THE FALLAS WERE BORN IN THE VERY HEARTOF THE TOWN. A TOWN THAT HAS ALWAYSBASKED RESPLENDENTLY IN SUNSHINE ANDBLUE SKIES, IN SERENE, ROMANTIC NIGHTS;WHERE FLOWER GARDENS AND VEGETABLEGARDENS, THE INHABITANTS OF ALLEYWAYSAND NEIGHBOURHOODS CO-EXIST IN COMPLETENATURALNESS AND SIMPLICITY.

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FALLAS WEEK falla, is created. When the festival began,the plantà was done in a single night,the night of 15th and 16th March.Nowadays, because of the spectacularnature and great size of some of themonuments, it is necessary to begintheir assembly several days before the15th. On the night of the plantà, thefalleros get together for a supper anddistribute the remaining tasks to ensurethe monument will be completely finishedby dawn the following day.

17–18 MARCHEach of the city’s fallas or neighbourhoodcommittees chooses their Fallera Mayor(Fallas Queen), Fallera Mayor Infantil(Children’s Fallas Queen) and their courtof honour, as their representatives atthe festival. Both are solemnly namedin the proclamations made in the monthsbefore the Fallas.

The Valencian ladies taking part, thefalleras, are dressed at all times insumptuous gowns that over the yearshave been even further embellished.Some of the materials used to makethese gowns are: silks, brocade, goldjewels, pearls and emeralds, goldencombs, earrings, hair pins mountedwith precious stones and used to holdtogether braids coiled above the ears,a shawl and apron.

On the morning of 17th March, thefalleras and their committees gatherin the Plaza del Ayuntamiento for theprize-giving. Earlier the judges will haveexamined all the monuments in thecity, between the full-scale fallas andthe children’s fallas there are morethan 750* in total, in order to come totheir decision.

The programme of festivities duringthe week of the Fallas has beenformed out of the very heart of theprocess of preparing a Falla. Anexample is the ninot indultat (thewinning caricature and the only effigynot to be burned) which is chosen bythe people, who appreciate that someof the ninots are genuine works of artand it would be a shame to burn them.And so it was decided that the publicthemselves would vote for the bestninot, which would be saved from theflames and an exhibition would be heldof the best caricatures, one ninot foreach falla. Each of the winning ninotsis on display in the Fallero Museum.

Gunpowder is an indispensable andintrinsic part of all Valencian festivals,and the Fallas are no exception. Duringthis festival it has a special power ofattraction, as thousands of peoplegather in the Plaza del Ayuntamientofor the mascletà at 2pm, from 1st to19th March, or for the despertàs inthe early hours of the morning, whenthe falleros set off hundreds of rocketsand fire crackers to wake up theirneighbourhoods. We cannot forgetthe spectacular Nit del foc (Night ofFire) that takes place in the early hoursof 18th March and features a fireworksdisplay that is the best example of itskind in the world.

15–16 MARCHThe plantà of a falla is the moment whenthe assembly of all its elements iscompleted and a unique monument, the

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fireworks that end up in the bonfireitself, the very last of which set off theflames that will gradually consume thepapier mâche, wood, paint and otherthings that have been used in theirconstruction.

After watching their falla burn down,many people head for the Plaza delAyuntamiento to watch the burning ofthe city council monument. This is thefalla belonging to all Valencians, andthe solemnity of the occasion meansthat it is burnt one hour after the others,at 1 o’clock in the morning. It is alwayspreceded by a small display ofspectacular fireworks that fill the squarewith noise, light and colour, and whichlead to the Cremà of the city’s last falla,and therefore the end of the festival.However, although it is a sad moment,as it means the festival is over, it is alsoa joyful moment as it symbolises thecoming of spring and, more importantly,the start of next year’s festival.

Throughout the night of 19th and 20thMarch, the municipal fire brigadesperform the valuable task of collectingthe ashes and rubbish so that thefollowing morning Valencia can getback to normal. Now is the momentto get creative and start thinking upideas so that next year’s monuments,and the whole festival, might be evenmore spectacular.

However, 17th and 18th March is whenyou can really admire a sight full ofbeauty, colour, tradition and devotion–the Ofrenda. This is the culminationof the falleras’ festival and is aprocession made by all the committeesin the city from their respectiveneighbourhoods to the Plaza de laVirgen in order to make a floral offeringto Valencia’s patron saint, Our Ladyof the Forsaken. The event starts at4pm and lasts until nightfall.

In front of the Basilica is a woodenstructure 15 metres high topped bythe face of the Madonna and Child,the falleras hand their bouquets to theVirgin’s dressers who use them tocreate an impressive tapestry offlowers forming the Virgin’s mantle,the design of which changes everyyear. As well as the bouquets broughtby the falleras, the falleros bring largeflower baskets which they leave at thefeet of the Virgin. An interesting fact:more than 25 tonnes of flowers areused during the festivities.

* Data from the Central FallasCommittee, from its websitewww.fallas.com

19 MARCHOn the 19th, around 10pm, the timehas come to begin the Cremà (burning)of the children’s monuments and thestreets of every neighbourhood burstinto life once again. Two hours later itwill be the turn of the full-scalemonuments. Burning the monumentsis often preceded by setting off

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PROGRAMME OFFALLEROS EVENTS

At 7pmFire Parade along the length of CalleColón , with a spectacular fireworksdisplay in Plaza Porta de la Mar.

At 10pmCremà (burning) of the Children’sFallas.

At 10.30pm: Cremà of the Children’sFalla which won first prize in the FallasSpecial Category.

At 11pmCremà of the Children’s Falla in thePlaza del Ayuntamiento.

20th MARCH

At 12 midnightCremà of all the Fallas.

At 12.30 amCremà of the Falla awarded First Prizein the Fallas Special Category.

At 1amA small fireworks display in the Plazadel Ayuntamiento, and Cremà of themunicipal Falla.

The Valencia Tourism Convention Bureauaccept no responsibility for any changes thatmay be made to this programme.

At 12pmHomage to the composer Serrano, atthe monument in his honour in AvenidaReino de Valencia. Ending in a mascletà.

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

At 4pmSecond day of the "Ofrenda" of flowersto Our Lady of the Forsaken, from CalleLa Paz and Calle San Vicente to Plazade la Virgen. Finishing at approximately1 o’clock in the morning.

19th MARCH

At 1.30amNit del Foc (Night of Fire), the festival’smost important fireworks display, in thePaseo de La Alameda (between thePuente de Exposición and the Puentede las Flores).

At 11amAt the Puente de San José, floral offeringby the Falleras Mayores (Fallas Queens)and their Court of Honour at thePatriarch’s statue. Ending in a mascletà.

At 12pmMass in honour of Saint José in ValenciaCathedral, offered by the Central FallasCommittee and the Carpenters Guild,in the presence of the Falleras Mayores(Fallas Queens) of Valencia and Courtof Honour. Mass sung by the Cathedralchoir with the José Iturbi conservatoryorchestra of Valencia.

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

At 4.30pmPrize-giving ceremony for the children’sFallas, on the stage in front of theAyuntamiento (Valencia Town Hall).

At 10pmFolklore Parade at the Plaza delAyuntamiento.

17th MARCH

At 1amFireworks display in the Paseo de LaAlameda (between the Puente deExposición and the Puente de las Flores).

At 9.30 amPrize-giving ceremony for the Fallas, onthe stage in front of the Ayuntamiento(Valencia Town Hall).

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

At 4pmFirst day of the "Ofrenda" of flowersto Our Lady of the Forsaken, fromCalle La Paz and Calle San Vicenteto Plaza de la Virgen. Finishing atapproximately 1 o’clock in the morning.

18th MARCH

At 1amFireworks display in the Paseo de LaAlameda (between the Puente deExposición and the Puente de las Flores).

At 11amHomage to the poet MaximilanoThous, at the monument in his honourat the crossroads between CalleSagunto and Calle Maximilano Thous.Ending in a mascletà.

From 1st to 13th March at 2pm.Mascletà (fireworks) in the Plaza delAyuntamiento (Town Square)

14th MARCH

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

At 6pmClosing ceremony of the Children’sNinot Exhibition

15th MARCH

At 8amPlantà (finishing) of the CHILDREN’SFALLAS

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

At 6pmClosing ceremony of the Ninot Exhibition

At 12 midnightPlantà (finishing) of all FALLAS

At 12 midnightFireworks display in the Paseo de LaAlameda (between the Puente deExposición and the Puente de las Flores).

16th MARCH

At 2pmMascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento(Town Square)

COME AND EXPERIENCE THE FALLAS

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THE FALLAS WITHIN EASY REACH

When you get here, or via the Internet, don’t forget to buyyour Valencia Tourist Card. This card offers free publictransport and substantial discounts on guided tours, ticketsto places of interest, car hire, tourist, leisure and restaurantservices.

The card is available from:Valencia Tourist Information offices - Reina, Airport,RENFE Station and/or Beach, and the ValenciaConference Centre, shops, The City of Arts and Sciences,hotels, hostels, apartment hire companies, kiosks andtourism companies.

More information at:www.valenciatouristcard.com

SITES ON THE INTERNET

On www.turisvalencia.es there is information about theFallas in the Festivities section. There you can find moreinformation about this Valencian festival par excellence.It should also be noted that just before and during thefestival, on the same website, it is possible to consulta micro-site where the full programme of the mostimportant events is listed. Alternatively you can find outmore about the Fallas by visiting: www.fallas.com andwww.fallasfromvalencia.com.

All the information you need to organise your visit toValencia and enjoy the festival in all its splendour, can befound at www.turisvalencia.es. Through this website youcan make airplane and hotel reservations online, andpurchase tickets for different events and other places ofinterest. An easy and dynamic way to prepare a fantasticholiday using information updated in real time.

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MAP

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Pl. Ayuntamiento

Pl. Virgen

Alameda

C. Sagunto

C. Maximilano Thous

Avenida Reino de Valencia

Puente de San José

Cathedral

C. Colón

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9Port America's Cup