Bon dĂa ?? This Monday news update is all about Fallas as the festival fills the streets. A reminder that Wednesday, March 19, is the last day of Fallas and an official holiday—markets will be closed. Here’s your news for the week:
? Prize-Winning Fallas
On Sunday night, the final winners of the best Fallas sculptures were announced.
?? Convento Jerusalén made history with a triple win, taking the top prize in both the large and small categories of the Special Section Fallas monuments. Their large monument, Or (Gold), explores the allure and power of wealth throughout history. Perhaps no surprise, as it had the biggest budget this year—over €250,000, according to Valencia Extra.
?? Convento Jerusalén also won the popular vote in the large ninot category. Their touching sculpture of an elderly couple celebrating their wedding anniversary amid the wreckage of the flood disaster captured hearts. Seated at a bakery (Forn Pa i Porta) caked in mud, they watch their granddaughter play between them. Read more at Valencia Extra.
?? In the smallest ninot category, Duque de Gaeta – Pobla de Farnals won for their tribute to Valencia’s “Solidarity Bridge.” Their rotating sculpture portrays volunteers with mops, buckets, and brooms helping clear neighborhoods after the flood disaster. More details at Las Provincias.
? Record-Breaking Crowds
More than a million people filled Valencia’s streets this weekend to admire the Fallas monuments and witness the mascletĂ and fireworks. Las Provincias reports on the festival’s growing popularity.
However, Sunday’s mascletà was so packed that hundreds of people became trapped at the south end of Plaza del Ayuntamiento, leading to dozens of emergency calls. The Red Cross attended over 100 medical cases, including more than 80 incidents of fainting. Levante has more.
? Complaints About Fallas Revelry
Not everyone is enjoying the festival’s excesses:
?? Ruzafa residents have lodged complaints about “firecracker wars” involving high-caliber explosives. Levante has the full story.
?? Historic sites near Mercado Central have suffered damage from late-night street parties, with piles of trash left behind. More details at Levante.
? Unique Fallas Monuments
?? Paiporta’s only Fallas monument stands as a stark tribute to the flood disaster. The town, one of the hardest-hit areas, saw its art and sculpture workshops devastated. With help from other commissions, Paiporta created Som (We Are), a monument symbolizing resilience. El PaĂs explains.
?? An American touch on Fallas? Michele Buster, founder of artisanal cheese specialist Forever Cheese, sponsored one of the most striking Fallas monuments this year on Avenida del Oeste. Titled Es La Leche, the monument honors dairy farming and agriculture. In an interview with Las Provincias, she describes her time in Valencia as “a love story.”
? What’s Next?
?? Monday & Tuesday: La Ofrenda takes place, with thousands of falleras and falleros converging on Plaza de la Virgen from late afternoon into the early morning. Expect major street closures and limited access. Read more about the tradition here.
?? Wednesday: La Cremà , the last night of Fallas, when the monuments are burned. I’ll be posting about that soon!
That’s all for now—enjoy the celebrations! ??