Las Fallas: Valencia's festival of fire and fireworks

Las Fallas transforms Valencia into a city of giant satirical sculptures, gunpowder and flowers every March. Hundreds of monuments appear on street corners, daily firecracker shows shake the centre, and on the final night nearly everything is set on fire.

Fun facts

• Las Fallas has been on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2016.
• Each year one figure, the ninot indultat, is saved from the flames by public vote and kept in the Fallas Museum.
• The tradition is linked to carpenters burning old wood on the feast of St Joseph.

What to see

• The daily mascletà, a deafening firecracker show at 2 pm on Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• The Flower Offering, when a giant figure of the Virgin is covered in flowers.
• La Cremà, the burning of the fallas on the night of 19 March.

What to taste

• Paella valenciana, the original version with chicken, rabbit and beans.
• Buñuelos de calabaza, pumpkin fritters dipped in hot chocolate.
• Horchata, a cold tiger nut drink, with long fartons pastries.

What to do

• Walk between neighbourhood fallas to compare the sculptures.
• Watch the night fireworks over the old Turia riverbed.
• Cycle through the Turia Gardens to the City of Arts and Sciences.

💡 Tip: Metro lines 3 and 5 link the airport with the centre. Bring earplugs for the mascletà, and book accommodation months ahead as prices soar.