What?
It’s fundamentally Holi, but with tomatoes! It begins around 11 am and lasts for precisely an hour. In that hour, participants indulge in the act of hurling tomatoes at one another, purely for fun…till they’re ultimately hosed off by fire trucks that drive down the streets washing the tomato juice off the participants and lanes!
How?
Crush tomatoes and throw.
Yup, that’s pretty much what it is!
Where?
In the state of Valencia in Spain, surrounded by the multiple mountains ranges and 30 kilometers from the realm of the Mediterranean lies the city of Buñol.
The land of the La Tomatina festival is one of the many tourist attractions in Spain and for good reason. Apart from being host to one of the most unusual fiestas, it offers a beautiful and culturally enriching visit, when in Spain.
When?
Tradition calls for celebration on the last Wednesday in the month of August. Mark your dates and plan your trip to Europe.
2014 – August 27th
2015 – August 26th
2016 – August 31st
More on Buñol…
If you’re planning a holiday in Spain, slot a couple of days for Buñol. Getting there is fairly easy as it’s about 38 kilometers from the main city of Valencia, which is easily accessible by road, sea and air. However, take your time (3 hours 25 minutes to be precise) and drive to Valencia from Barcelona. The surroundings are breathtaking and the roads are… wait for it…pothole free! (Ah, the way the Indian mind works…)
In terms of things to do there, discover the beautiful nature areas such as Alta Cave, Turche Cave and Juanes River where there is a 60 meter waterfall. Another interesting spot is its 13th century castle and the El Salvador church, which are the quarters of the town’s archaeological museum. From a historic and culture perspective, Buñol definitely ranks high.
It has a certain…well, watch Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and I’m quite certain you’ll figure it out!
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Clear those planners for August and head to Buñol in Spain for some La Tomatina fun!