Michael Powell's Blog, page 68
March 9, 2015
A Concise History of Valencia
As one of the major cities of the Mediterranean, it’s no surprise that Valencia has had a tumultuous history. From the Rule of the Romans to the Reign of the Rita, this city has experienced a lot. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the major events which have shaped Valencia throughout the years.
138 BC
The Roman outpost of Valentia is founded, and is among the very first cities on the Iberian peninsula. Populated by former Roman soldiers, Valentia was erected along the Turia River and centered...
March 7, 2015
Artists in Action at the Ciutat Fallera
The plantà on March 15th can seem a miraculous occurrence. Just like on Christmas morning, when children come downstairs to find presents under the tree, Valencians come onto the streets to find gigantic monuments erected all about. But it’s not magic: we visited the North Pole of Fallas, Ciutat Fallera, where a community of artists are hard at work, busy as elves.
Initially, I thought it was just a nickname, but Ciutat Fallera is an actual neighborhood in Valencia, located in the northwest of...
March 6, 2015
The Exposition of Ninots
Before they’re placed within their Falla, the best ninots from every Fallas commission are displayed in the annual Exposición del Ninot at the Nuevo Centro. Like so much at Fallas, this is a competition… and from the ninot’s point of view, the prize is of utmost importance. The best one, as chosen by the general public, will be spared the flames of the Cremà.
Opening a few weeks ahead of Fallas, the Exposición del Ninot gives Valencian their first enticing taste of the long-awaited festival. W...
March 3, 2015
The Mascletà: A Most Valencian Invention
Who loves fireworks? The color, the sound, the visual spectacle? Of course, we all do. It’s universal! Now, who still loves fireworks minus the color and the visual spectacle, leaving basically only the sound? Hmmm, not very many of you have kept your hands up… just a bunch of maniacs wearing blue and white handkerchiefs. Oh, let me guess: you’re the Valencians.
The mascletà is a major part of Fallas, scheduled to rattle the buildings for five minutes every day in the town square. But it’s als...
Valencian Pilota
The unofficial sport of Valencia is pilota, which is a type of handball played in long halls known as trinquets. This fast-moving game is like a mix between volleyball and tennis, but looks a lot more painful than either of those.
Pilota is frequently played in outdoor courts, but the best place in Valencia to catch a match is at the Trinquet Pelayo, next to the Estación del Norte. Despite its central location, this trinquet is almost impossible to find, if you don’t know exactly where you’re...
March 2, 2015
This Is Fallas
Every year, regular life in Valencia comes to a screeching halt, as the city gives itself over to Fallas: a spectacular celebration of art, light, noise and fire that runs from the end of February to March 19th. It’s a festival unlike any other, and comprises so many different elements, that we felt a concise explanation might in order. What is Fallas, exactly?
Our previous article was titled “This Is Valencia“, and now we’re writing “This Is Fallas.” In truth, these two sentences are analogou...
February 26, 2015
This Is Valencia
By far the biggest cities in Spain are Madrid and Barcelona: these two dominate the country’s media, culture, tourism and (especially) sports. But what comes next? What’s the Chicago to Spain’s New York and Los Angeles? That, my friends, would be Valencia.
Valencia is the third-biggest city in Spain and capital of the Valencian Community, one of the country’s seventeen autonomous communities. The Comunidad Valenciana consists of three provinces. From north to south, these are Castellón, Valenc...
February 25, 2015
La Cridà: Ja Estem en Falles!
The last Sunday of February is a busy day in Valencia. It starts early with the despertà, which awakens the city with a bang. There are events throughout the day, including pilota matches, marching bands, and a mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. But Fallas doesn’t officially begin until the evening, with the celebration of the Cridà.
Thousands of people pack onto the stone bridge in front of the Torres de Serrano, hours before the Cridà, or the “calling”, is set to start. Most of them com...
February 24, 2015
Wake Up, Valencia
It’s the last Sunday of February. You’ve purposefully forgotten to set your alarm clock, hoping to enjoy the deep sleep of early morning. As you nestle in your comforter, just as cozy as can be, Valencia looks upon your resting figure with a smile. But it’s not a smile of maternal tenderness… in fact, it’s more of a smirk. And then the explosions start.
Outrageous. Abusive. Disrespectful. Welcome to the despertà, Valencia’s annual wake-up call for the month-long festival of Fallas. Barbaric. O...
February 23, 2015
¡Hola Valencia!
Hey there, Valencia, did you miss us? After nearly five years spent traveling the world, from Tokyo to Bolivia, from Iceland to Sri Lanka, we’ve returned to our adopted home. I’m from the US, and Jürgen is from Germany, but this Spanish city on the Mediterranean Sea is where we’ve decided to settle down. And it’s about time we show the world why.
In 2008, Jürgen and I moved to Valencia on a whim. We had been living in Western Ireland; a beautiful area, but one with an absolutely disagreeable c...
