Visit www.24-7valencia.com or www.coolcarmen.com for updated information on what´s going on. Other good resources are La Turia and Que y Donde, both weeklies sold at kiosks and news agents.

Las Fallas

The festival origins go back to anscient times when in autumn the days became shorter and artisans were able to continue their work by the light of crafted wooden lamps known as parot, estai, pagés, pelmodo or perniodol…

The Las Fallas festivals are supposed to be an expression of the soul of a people born and live under a resplendent sun aside a glittering sea, a people that have enjoyed quiet romantic evenings, the rural agricultural life and the streets of a vibrant, exciting city.

The Fallas themselves are huge sculptures of papier-máché on wood built by local artists; each neighbourhood sponsors its own falla and together they create a the huge street pantomime and satire of modern life that is "Las Fallas".

Festivities include street parties, paella-cooking competitions, parades, open-air concerts, bullfighting and fireworks displays. After midnight on the final day each falla goes up in flames accompanied by yet more fireworks.

La Tomatina

During the last or penultimate Wednesday in August you have a chance to participate in the most bizarre and messiest festivals in Spain – a tomato throwing orgy.

The festival is held in Buňol, an industrial town 40km west of Valencial city and every year it attracts up to 30 thousand visitors. Just before noon at the Calle del Cid an anarchic, cheerful battle starts with tons of ripe tomatoes tipped out to the waiting crowd and after an hour or so you get sluiced down with hoses by the local fire brigade.

Semana Santa

Easter Week is celebrated with solemnity in the towns of Valencia region. The three main events are: The Procession of the Palm Leaves, the Procession of the Holy Burial and the Procession of the Resurrection are the high points of these festivities.

The origin of these celebrations goes back to the 15th century, with the formation a religious group called the "Concordia des Disciplinats" San Vicente Ferrer as a leading member.

In the maritime quarters, Easter week is full of processions and events organised by the Cofradías (religious brotherhoods), and the Coorporaciones Armadas, subdivided into the Pretorianos, Longios, Sayones and Granaderos.

The Cofradías processions are joined by all and sundry; some dressed as Pontius Pilate, Herod, the Apostles, Our Lady of the Forsaken and other Saints. All this is accompanied by the ringing of bells and the sounds of traditional music.

At midnight on el sábado de Gloria (Glorious Saturday) when the church bells ring out in celebration of the resurrection, the residents of the neighbourhood throw pots of mud from their windows and balconies; a curious old tradition known as the "trenca de perols".

The celebration of Easter Sunday and Monday are folkloric and populist in character.