How to See the Fallas-Sculptures
With over 700 Fallas and Fallas Infantiles spread all over the city, you will need some kind of a strategy
First of
all, you will never see all of the fallas, so forget about it. Even if
you set it as a mission, work out your route, you will have to walk and
get around so much that you will miss all of the other spectacles of the
Fallas Festival and you will get too tired to appreciate the fallas-sculptures
themselves.
Fallas Especiales.
15
of Valencia’s 350 Fallas are in the Special Section. These should
be your priority. Fallas Especiales are by far more impressive than the
rest because they cost a lot more and are made by the best of the artistas
falleros. The 15 Fallas Especiales annually compete for the first prize.
Strictly speaking, there are 14, since Falla de Ayuntamento doesn’t
participate in the contest, but it is just as special as the others.
It is quite easy to see most of Fallas Especiales:
4 are in the centre (
see
map).
4 are in L’Example close to the centre.
1 is in Paseo Alameda (Multimap
Map) where you are likely to end up if you see the fireworks.
One - the Falla of Nou Campanar (Multimap
Map) is a bit out of the way but a definite must-see as it is likely
to be the most impressive. It won the first prize for the last three years
and In 2006 it was the biggest Falla in history - 28 metres.
The other 5 Fallas Especiales you can skip.
Images of some of the Fallas Especiales 2006:
Ayuntamento
Nou Campanar
Pizarro
Pilar
Cadarso
As for the rest of the Fallas,
just see
them as you walk around enjoying the festival. You will see more than
enough. A couple of general pointers - the highest concentration
is in Ruzafa and the most original and abstract ones are near Juan Llorens.
If you buy Turista Fallero, you will have a map with every single Falla marked on it, so you can get a feeling of where it is best to walk around. And if your Spanish is good, you can also read up on what every Falla means
Apart from that, you only chance of understanding a falla is just to look at it. Unfortunately. Every ninot is supplied with a satirical verse but even if you do speak Spanish, these verses are in Valenciano.
Also unfortunately, it is impossible to know what the Fallas look like
before you see them. The Turista Fallero only contains rough sketches
drawn before the Fallas were constructed. The Exhibition
of Ninots contains only one ninot (figurine) out of many dozens that
will make up each Falla. For better or for worse - it is a secret,
surprise and suspense until you see it live.