While many Spanish cities celebrate Semana Santa (Holy Week) with processions and pageantry, Valencia’s version is uniquely rooted in its maritime soul. The neighborhoods of Cabanyal, Canyamelar, and El Grao form the heart of this celebration. Semana Santa processions recreate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it is also a time to…
The Origins of La Cremà The tradition of burning Fallas monuments dates back centuries. The first documented Cremà occurred in 1751, but bonfires celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day on March 19 have been part of Valencian culture since at least the 13th and 14th centuries. These fires historically symbolized the end of winter and the arrival…
Amid the fireworks, festivities, and towering monuments of Fallas, a deeply religious ceremony takes center stage. La Ofrenda, or “The Offering,” is an act of devotion and faith—one of the most moving traditions of the festival. For two days, thousands of falleras and falleros dressed in traditional attire make their way in a grand procession…