Fiestas:
Fallas - Does the smell of gunpowder excite you? The sight of flames make you smile? Do you have pyrotechnic urges that are only acceptable on Nov 5th? Well, Las Fallas is your kind of event, a loud, smokey, rowdy fiesta where the whole town is literally set ablaze!
Tomatina - is held annually on the last Wednesday of August in Buñol. 20,000 - 40,000 from the world over come to fight with over 100 tons of over-ripe tomatoes. The week-long festival features music, parades, dancing, & fireworks. On the night before, there is a paella cooking contest.
La Corda - Ever seen 35,000 rockets launched in 40 mins? Paterna signs off August Fiesta with a BANG.
Moors and Christians - The parades with period costumes, moving in step to exotic music, recall the rivalry existing between the Moors & Christian troops at the time of the re-conquest. Paterna offers an excellent opportunity to view this spectacle.
Bull Running - Montroy & Monserrat have bull runs mid August.
Beaches:
Blue Flag Beaches - Cullera - Dossel, Natural beach almost one kilometre long, fine sand & clear waters. It is very quiet & nudism is practised on its northern extreme - El Faro, Small & isolated creek located on the southern extreme of the lighthouse in Cullera - Los Olivos, also known as L’Illa or Punta Negra, very safe for children - Raco, areas for sports & children’s games - San Antonio, the most cosmopolitan beach in the town - Cabanal-Arnas Beach, fine & golden sand beach - Valencia - El Saler, a five kilometre beach of fine golden sand, sheltered from western winds by a dune & pinewoods giving it a natural environment - La Malvarrosa, the main beach in Valencia minutes from the city by bus, metro, car, or foot. On the sea-front you can enjoy walking, roller skating, jogging, sun bathing or stop at a restaurant for a paella & a wine. On summer nights, the beaches come alive.
Or head south to Gandia, Oliva, Denia, Javea, Moraira & Calpe.
Golf:
El Saler Golf Club, south of Valencia, lies between the Med and the Albufera Nature Park. Designed by Javier Arana, the course has great fairways, ample greens and uses the natural pine trees and sand dunes to great effect. World ranked 29 it has hosted Spanish Opens. 18 holes. Tel 961 610 384. El Bosque, west of Valencia and designed by Robert Trent Jones is a demanding championship quality course, of hills and gullies requiring skill with fast greens and many bunkers. Hosted Spanish Opens.18 holes. Tel 961 808 000. Escorpion at Betera designed by Ron Kirby, the course has many lakes providing nesting sites for many species of birds. 18 holes. Tel 961 601 211. Others courses include Manises Golf Tel 961 534 069, Club de Golf Oliva Nova, 34 962 857 666 designed by Seve Ballesteros.
