Category: News

Weekend Highlights: Gran Nit de Juliol!

Buen finde! Here are the weekend highlights for 17–20 July in and around Valencia:

Fairs & Events

Gran Nit de Juliol – Saturday, 19 July
Valencia’s big summer night is back, with free activities across the city. Look for circus performances in Parque Central, traditional dances and concerts in Plaza de la Virgen, and special late-night openings at select museums. It all ends with fireworks at the City of Arts and Sciences.

Part of the Gran Nit celebrations include a special carnival program at the Carmen Cultural Center and the Bellas Artes Museum.

Manises Ceramics Parade – Friday, 18 July
An annual tradition where local artisans toss ceramic flowerpots, plates, and vases from parade floats. Catch one, and it’s yours to keep.

Music & Performance

Valencia Jazz Festival at Palau de la Música
Juan Saus and Martina Sabariego’s Big Band perform on Saturday. The Latinswing Sextet takes the stage on Sunday. The Palau de la Música is also hosting the International Band Competition with performances throughout the weekend.

CaixaForum Summer Nights – Every Wednesday in July
This week’s program features improvisational comedy workshops and performances in Spanish.

FAR València at the Marina – Ongoing
Running through 31 July, this open-air concert series includes a wide-ranging lineup, headlined by Carlos Santana.

Concerts at Jardines de Viveros
A month-long lineup of live music featuring international stars and Spanish favorites.

Beaches & Outdoors

Beach Closures
Several beaches, including El Perelló and Cullera, have been temporarily closed due to water contamination. Las Provincias reports on what’s behind the closures and how to check ahead before heading to the beach.

Night Walks with Caminart
Evening guided tours through the city’s historic sites, including Modernist architecture and the medieval Silk Route. Tours in Spanish.

Arts & Exhibitions

Sunset Tours at the Hortensia Herrero Art Centre
Every Friday in July and August, the CAHH has guided sunset visits of this contemporary art collection in the heart of Valencia.

Pedro Orrente at Bellas Artes Museum
A new exhibition on the 16th-century painter, exploring his travels and artistic evolution during Spain’s Golden Age. On view until 12 October.

Summer Outdoor Cinema

Solax Cinema at Novotel Sky Bar and Museo L’Iber
Rooftop screenings in the original version with Spanish subtitles (VOSE). Upcoming films include La La Land and Lady Bird.

Cinema at La Nau – Thursday, 17 July
Final screening in this summer series: Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, shown in the open-air courtyard in VOSE.

Shopping

Mercado de Tapineria Summer Market – Until 3 August
A rotating collection of pop-up shops and events in the old city. Art, fashion, and food in a plaza setting.

GangaZon Opens New Outlet
The popular Amazon returns store now has a second location near Bonaire for bargain hunters.

Food & Dining

Gastro League Street Food Festival – 22–24 July
Food trucks, live music, and good vibes at Levante’s stadium next weekend.

New Cocktail Bar by Chef Begoña Rodrigo
Las Provincias writes that a Michelin-starred chef has opened a chic, high-end cocktail bar in Valencia, blending craft mixology with local flavors.

Sports & Games

Free Beach Sports at Malvarrosa
Valencia’s Municipal Sports Foundation is offering volleyball, yoga, and Pilates for free on the sand this summer. Sailing and kayaking sessions are also available on select dates.

Turia Running Track Extension
Valencia Extra reports Good news for runners: the Turia Park circuit will be extended by 2km starting at the Ángel Custodio bridge.

Kids & Family

Summer Nights at the Hemisfèric
Live planetarium shows in the IMAX dome, geared for kids aged 10 and up. All sessions in Spanish.

Paleontology Museum Opens – 29 July
Valencia Plaza writes that the city’s Natural Science Museum will reopen as the new Paleontologic, with interactive exhibits designed especially for children.

Week in News: Weather Woes, Migration Disputes, and a Changing Albufera

Bon dia! Here’s your weekly roundup of news for Monday, 14 July.

Extreme Weather

A powerful lightning and hailstorm on Saturday led to the cancellation of several public events and caused widespread damage. In the Marina, a woman and her daughter were struck by lightning while taking shelter under a tree.
ABC | À Punt | Levante-EMV | Las Provincias

Meanwhile, extreme heat continues to grip the region. Valencia recorded 62 heat-related deaths in just one week, close to the total number of deaths for all of July 2024. Temperatures in the Albufera lagoon hit 30°C, adding strain to an already fragile ecosystem. A wildfire in Tarragona burned over 3,000 acres and sent smoke as far as Murcia.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2) | El País

In response, the Ayuntamiento has launched a preparedness campaign, training families in emergency planning and providing guidance on how to assemble home emergency kits.
ABC

Politics in Valencia

Tensions flared in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, where violent clashes erupted between far-right groups and North African migrants following an assault on an elderly man. The unrest comes amid controversy over Spain’s efforts to house unaccompanied migrant minors, which has sparked backlash from far-right factions, including Vox.
Reuters | El País

The ninth protest against Generalitat President Carlos Mazón is scheduled for 29 July in Catarroja. Demonstrators continue to hold him accountable for the mismanagement of the October floods, marking the longest-running protest movement in the region’s history.
El País | Levante-EMV

At the national level, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces increasing pressure over a growing corruption and sex scandal involving members of the Socialist Party.
Levante-EMV

In a further sign of political tension, the headquarters of the left-wing coalition party Compromís in Picanya was vandalized with neo-Nazi graffiti. A similar attack targeted the Socialist party headquarters the week before.
El País

Flood Recovery

The Metrovalencia workers’ union has accused management of rushing to reopen flood-damaged stations without completing essential safety works, citing faulty crossings and unfinished platforms.
El País

Catarroja will install 100 blue tiles across the town to mark the floodwater levels from October’s disaster. A court-led investigation is also underway to determine accountability for the botched emergency response.
Valencia Plaza

Economy

President Mazón has requested €1.8 billion in loans from private banks to cover overdue government bills, underscoring the severity of Valencia’s liquidity crisis.
El País | Valencia Plaza

Meanwhile, immigration has increased by 30% over the past three years and is now a key driver of economic growth in the Comunitat Valenciana.
Levante-EMV

Changing City and Development

Cabanyal is becoming a hotbed for investment, especially in co-living and flex-living developments near the beach.
Valencia Plaza

Despite rising demand for housing, new construction in Valencia has slowed to a crawl due to rising costs, labor shortages, and administrative delays. Rental prices continue to hit record highs.
Valencia Plaza (1) | Valencia Plaza (2)

A new report highlights that converting traffic lanes into bike lanes can reduce vehicle emissions by up to 45%.
Las Provincias

Crime and Policing

A fire in a residential building forced the evacuation of over 200 people, with 20 hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Police are investigating both the cause and a possible arson attempt nearby.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2) | Las Provincias (3)

Nine youths were arrested after a violent street fight in Patraix. Residents in Pilar have also reported a rise in street brawls and prostitution.
Las Provincias | Levante-EMV

Five decomposed bodies were found washed up on beaches in Sagunto, Cullera, and Castelló. Authorities suspect the victims may have been migrants lost at sea.
À Punt

Police arrested a man in Requena for attempting to poison his niece in an alleged inheritance dispute. The niece had installed a hidden camera and recorded him tampering with food jars.
Las Provincias

In a large police operation, over 30 people were arrested in Valencia for operating a phone scam targeting elderly parents with fake emergencies involving their children.
Las Provincias

Environment

Several beaches in Sueca, Altea, and Callosa d’en Sarrià were temporarily closed last week due to contamination from sewage leaks.
El País

Culture and History

Several people were injured during Pamplona’s annual San Fermín festival. Separately, in Picassent, a man was seriously gored during a bull-running event.
Las Provincias (1) | Las Provincias (2)

Authorities recovered more than 30 historical documents, including 16th-century orders from the Count of Cirat to defend against pirates and execute thieves.
El País

El Palmar fishermen held their centuries-old draw for Albufera fishing rights, this time welcoming new members from outside traditional fishing families, including a Valencian resident from Gambia. The guild also warned that the lagoon’s environmental health is in critical decline.
Las Provincias