9 days Barcelona & Valencia for Fallas Festival

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Detailed Trip Description

Does the smell of gunpowder excite you? Does the sight of flames make you smile? Do you harbor pyrotechnic urges that are only socially acceptable on the Fourth of July? Well, Las Fallas de Valencia is your kind of event--a loud, smoky, rowdy fiesta where the whole town is literally set ablaze! Las Fallas literally means "the fires" in Valencian. The focus of the fiesta is the creation and destruction of ninots--huge cardboard, wood and plaster statues--that are placed at over 350 key intersections and parks around the city today. The ninots remain in place until March 19th, the day known as "La Crema." Starting in the early evening, young men with axes chop holes in the statues and stuff them with fireworks. The crowds start to chant, the streetlights are turned off, and all of the ninots are set on fire at exactly the stroke of midnight. Over the years, the local firemen, called "bomberos," have devised unique ways to protect the town's buildings from torching along with the ninots, such as by neatly covering storefronts with fireproof tarps. And each year, one of the ninots is spared from destruction by popular vote and exhibited in the local Museum of the Ninot along with the other favorites from years past. Besides the burning of the ninots, there is a myriad of other activities during the fiesta. During the day, you can check out the extensive roster of bullfights, parades, paella contests and beauty pageants around the city. Spontaneous fireworks displays occur everywhere during the days leading up to "La Crema", but another highlight is the daily mascletá which occurs in the Plaza Anyuntamiento at exactly 2pm. When the huge pile of firecrackers is ignited, the ground literally shakes for the next ten minutes. Enjoy this exciting city and Barcelona for 9 wonderful days!

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Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Barcelona, Spain

 
Day 1 – Arrival at Barcelona. Transfer to your hotel.
Airport Transfers

Enjoy an evening stroll around the city center and a welcome dinner where we will review your tour itinerary. Overnight in Barcelona.

Barcelona, Spain Airport Transfers picture

Day 2 - Barcelona, Spain

 
Breakfast at your hotel with a full day Barcelona city tour. Overnight in Barcelona.
Sightseeing

Full day city tour (8 hours) include: : the Gothic Quarter, the world-famous Las Ramblas and the Maremagnum port area. In the afternoon, visit the Sagrada Familia church and spend some time wandering through Parc Güell including transfers and transportation to sites within Barcelona, a guided tour of Barcelona and bilingual guide.

Barcelona, Spain Sightseeing picture

Day 3 - Montserrat

 
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning tour of Montserrat Mountain. Overnight in Barcelona
National Parks

Morning trip to Montserrat mountain (5 hours), including a visit to the Monastery including transfers as specified in the itinerary, transportation to Montserrat and a bilingual guide.

Montserrat National Parks picture

Day 4 - Valencia, Spain

 
Morning transfer from Barcelona to Valencia.
Private Car Services

Breakfast at your hotel. Morning transfer from Barcelon to Valencia. Afternoon at leisure in Valencia. Overnight in Valencia

Valencia, Spain Private Car Services picture

Day 5 - Valencia, Spain

 
Full day city tour of Valencia. Overnight in Valencia.

A full day city tour of Valencia (8 hours) including:
Malvarrosa Beach and Port District,
City of Arts and Science,
The Gardens of Turia (Former Turia Riverbed)
Carmen District,
The Walls and Towers of Valencia,
The Cathedral,
Town of Alboraya, famous for being the birthplace of the horchata. Includes transfers as specified in the itinerary, transportation to sites within Valencia, Guided tour of Valencia per itinerary with a bilingual guide.
Optional lunch in Valencia city center.

Valencia, Spain picture

Day 6 - Valencia, Spain

 
Enjoy the "Fallas Festival" in Valencia. Overnight in Valencia.

Enjoy in Fallas Festival, including the Mascletá, Awards Cerimony for Fallas, the Folklorical Parade and Fireworks.

Valencia, Spain picture

Day 7 - Valencia, Spain

 
Morning tour of the Natural Park of Albufera & short lake cruise.

Morning tour of the Natural Park of Albufera with a short cruise of the lake is included and indulge in the best paellas in Spain! Enjoy the "Flower Offering to the 'Virgen de los Desamparados' during the afternoon. Includes transfers and transportation within Valencia and per itinerary with guided tour & bilingual guide.

Valencia, Spain picture

Day 8 - Barcelona, Spain

 
Morning transfer to Barcelona
Private Car Services

Morning transfer to Barclona. Afternoon at leisure in Barcelona. Overnight in Barcelona.


Day 9 - Barcelona, Spain

 
Day trip to Girona & Dali Museum. Overnight in Barcelona

Tour of Girona & Dali's Museum in Figueres includes transfers & transportation per itinerary with guided tours of Girona and Dali's Museum and bilingual guide.
In Girona:
Visit the Cathedral, including the 10th century Tower of Charlemagne, the Lleoness de Girona (the statue that marks the start of the city), the Jewish Quarter, one of the best preserved example of Jewish life and culture during the Middle Ages and view the Moorish Baths.
Dali's Museum:
Immerse yourself in the largest surrealist creation n the world, occupying the entire old Municipal Theater which was destroyed during the Civil War. On its ruins, Catalonias greatest 20th century artist, Salvador Dali, decided to create his museum.

Barcelona, Spain picture

Day 10 - Barcelona, Spain

 
Transfer to Barcelona airport for return to the U.S.
Airport Transfers

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Barcelona airport for your return to the U.S.


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