Winging It: Valencia
DO: Las Fallas, 15-19 MarchPyromaniacs, we've found just the festival for you. Head to Valencia's Las Fallas, which essentially celebrates the burning of giant
Pyromaniacs, we've found just the festival for you. Head to Valencia's Las Fallas, which essentially celebrates the burning of giant, specially built effigies over several days next month. But the festival has more to offer than just the risk of first-degree burns. There are also processions through the city, and a lot of kids dropping fire crackers outside your window at 8am (all in the name of tradition, obviously).
You could check into a generic hotel, or you could check into Caro – a (renovated) gothic palace. At first appearance the Caro, right in the heart of the city, is modern luxury at its finest; but look closer and you’ll notice the medieval staircase, a former palace ballroom and the old Arabic wall, as the hotel is built from castle ruins. Dressing like a member of The Horrors is strictly optional.
Valencia is the home turf of Spain’s most famous dish, paella. Traditionally cooked on Sundays (there's no roast beef and Yorkshire puddings here), traditional Valencian paella includes the more esoteric ingredients rabbit and snail. Available in almost every bar in the old town and on food stalls along the beach, you can fill up and finish off with fresh churros and chocolate sauce.
