Paella is certainly our most international traditional dish, it is famous all over the world and an attraction for those gastronomy lovers who visit Valencia.

What is the origin of this dish that is so traditional?

Rice is one of the most ancient crops in our agriculture, as it arrived in Valencia after the Muslim invasion in the 8th century. Thanks to the introduction of new crops such as oranges, aubergines and rice, and the construction of a large system of irrigation channels around the River Turia wich we still use today, Muslim Valencia was believed to be at the time the richest garden in al-Andalus.

When King James of Aragon conquered Valencia five centuries later, he found a rich and fertile land, as the king wrote in the “Llibre del Repartiment” (Distribution Book). which reflects the “repartiment” (distribution) of the conquered lands among the new cristian population.

Nowadays, rice production in Valencia is placed in a protected area just a few kilometers from the city, the Albufera Natural Park. This wetland is home to local species and a resting place for thousands of migratory birds that visit us every year.

The marshy land around the Albufera lake, which is easy to flood, provides the perfect place for growing rice. And it is here where the famous Valencian paella was born.

The locals, farmers and fishermen, had all the ingredients around, and of course the rice. Nowadays, villages such as El Palmar are full of restaurants offering traditional specialities to locals and visitors.

The traditional Valencian paella is always made of chicken and rabbit. The other ingredients are olive oil, green beans, garrofó (a type of local bean), snails, tomato, ground paprika, rosemary, salt and saffron.

It must be definitely cooked in a flat pan with two handles on the sides, also called paella. The result is a type of dry rice with a very thin thickness , and should be slightly toasted at the base, what we call “socarrat”. We love it.

It is important to choose the right type of rice we use for paella . Our rice varieties are short grain, for example bomba rice, which allows for a long cooking time, so the rice picks up the flavors from the rest of the ingredients.

For example, long-grain rice, such as basmati, is not suitable for this kind of dishes, as it is a quick-cooking rice which is often used as an aside ingredient, in spite of that it is usually cooked appart.

Therefore, the secret is to choose a variety able to resist a long cooking time, which allows all the aromas and flavours of the rest of the ingredients to blend.

In addition to the traditional chicken and rabbit paella, in Valencia you can taste many different rice dishes, depending on the area or the time of year.

Other types of paella, or dry rice dishes, are “arroz del senyoret”, with fish and seafood, or vegetable paella, with seasonal vegetables.

Brothy rice dishes such as “arros amb fesols i naps”, with meat and vegetables. Other mellow rices, very tender, made of fish or seafood, vegetables or mushrooms. Or duck paella, very typical in winter, throughout the hunting season.

This typical dish also tells us about the welcoming and festive nature of Valencian people, as the traditional way to enjoy a good paella is to place it in the center of the table, and share it with everyone there eating straight from the pan, if possible, with a wooden spoon.

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The origin of las Fallas comes from the old carpenter’s tradition, when celebrating the arrival of spring on 19th March, to burn pieces of wood (parots) that were used to prop up their lights during the winter. People gradually started to add old belongings like clothes, which gave the wooden structure a human-looking aspect, until they became the ninots (figures) that we know today. The Valencian sense of humour soon gave the irony shown in the ninots. The satirical aspect of the monuments is still very important at present.

The Fallas monuments have evolved into temporary works of art which, in some cases, cost hundreds of thousands of euros.

Some of the festivities begin on the last Sunday of February, but the most of the festivities take place during the last days, especially from 15th to 19th March.

From the last Sunday of February until 19 March, we celebrate Mascletá in the Town Hall Square at 2 p.m. every day. It lasts about 5 minutes.

The Valencian word “masclet”, comes from the word “mascle”, male in Valencian language, and means a firecracker of great sonic power.

You would never imagine how great the sound of gunpowder gets in just 5 minutes. Everything starts shaking, the ground, the windows in the buildings,..

It really is a wonderful roar, a lovely sound to us Valencian people , together with the smell of gunpowder…

Every day the Fallera Mayor (the queen of the festival, elected in a contest) , together with the Fallera Mayor Infantil (the little girl chosen as little queen), and the Fallera Court of Honor, gives permission to the fireworks Master to start the mascletà, from the balcony of the City Hall.

The Fallas festivals take their name from the artistic constructions made of flammable materials, such as paper-mâché and wood, which represent figures and compositions of elements inspired especially by regional, but also national and international current events. Always represented in a satirical context.

These monuments are ephemeral works of art that local artists and sculptors create throughout the year. Some of the monuments, especially those in the rich neighbourhoods, can reach 15 meters high.

The whole economic cost of these monuments is supported by the neighbourhood corporations , also called Falla, or “Casal Faller” and managed by a so-called Fallera Commission. Every year, awards are given by the Official Mein Commission, to those fallas (monuments) that stand out for their spectacularity, size, or satirical themes.

Each falla is required to construct two works, the “falla mayor” (the big one) and the “falla infantil” (a smaller monument dedicated to the children)

Both participate in a separate competition.

In addition, a part of the monument (a figure or a little composition) is sent to the so-called Ninot Exhibition. There is also a competition among the ninots (figures), but this is judged by the public of visitors to the exhibition, who can vote for their favourite work.

The night of the 19th is known as Cremà, during which all the fallas built are burnt in huge and beautiful fires.

The whole city gets involved in the festivals, everybody is in the streets, with the music, the firework displays, the pyrotechnics, to say goodbye to the current festivals. Only the visitors’ favourite ninot in the
exhibition is spared, or pardoned, which is therefore called ‘Ninot indultat’ and is kept in the Fallero Museum together with the indulted ninots from previous years.

Next day is the time for neighbours involved in the festival organisation, and the artists to get back to work, to plan next year’s festivity.

Las Fallas is a festival to protect and to value. The way in which the locals get together and maintain the traditions related to the Fallas, such us the music, the regional instruments, the traditional beautiful costumes made of silk, the typical gastronomy such as paella or pumpkin fritters, has been the reason for
UNESCO to put the Fallas of Valencia on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Valencia official tour guides

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