Valencia's biggest festival, Las Fallas, takes place every March with a riotious week of city fires, explosions and parades in honour of Saint Joseph, attracting around two million people. The city is adorned with a myriad of ninots, vast papier maché figures - politicians, film stars, bullfighters and anyone of local, national or international notoriety can find themselves colourfully caricatured as a 15- or sometimes 20-foot model.
One of the highlights of the festival week is the burning of these monumental effigies. Although local neighbourhoods labour for months to create the statues, within seconds they are stuffed with fireworks and left to burn into the night. Three hundred firemen stand by at different points as these ephemeral figures are reduced to burning wrecks - a cruel but fascinating form of satire.
Burning effigies are not the only speciality during this week. Another highlight is the daily mascleta, which takes place in the Plaza Ayuntamiento at 2pm, a mass of fireworks explosions, rockets and firecrackers. Each day sees different neighbourhood groups competing for the most impressive display, with the prize going to the loudest. Good standing space is hard to come by, unless you book yourself into one of the square's hotels months in advance.
Waiting ambulances are at the ready. Some people find the explosions so loud that they often faint. Pregnant women are forbidden from attending the mascleta and it is not uncommon to see the odd person being whisked off to hospital. So come if you dare. This event is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
One of the highlights of the festival week is the burning of these monumental effigies. Although local neighbourhoods labour for months to create the statues, within seconds they are stuffed with fireworks and left to burn into the night. Three hundred firemen stand by at different points as these ephemeral figures are reduced to burning wrecks - a cruel but fascinating form of satire.
Burning effigies are not the only speciality during this week. Another highlight is the daily mascleta, which takes place in the Plaza Ayuntamiento at 2pm, a mass of fireworks explosions, rockets and firecrackers. Each day sees different neighbourhood groups competing for the most impressive display, with the prize going to the loudest. Good standing space is hard to come by, unless you book yourself into one of the square's hotels months in advance.
Waiting ambulances are at the ready. Some people find the explosions so loud that they often faint. Pregnant women are forbidden from attending the mascleta and it is not uncommon to see the odd person being whisked off to hospital. So come if you dare. This event is definitely not for the faint-hearted.
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