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The Festival of La Tomatina is regarded as the world’s greatest food fight, with thousands of people hurling tomatoes at each other in the cobblestone streets of Buñol in Valencia region. What is normally a sleepy village along the Mediterranean coast of Spain turns into a tomato-soaked spectacle, swelling the streets with red and covering all in tomato puree!La Tomatina started by accident in the 1940s when a parade in the town square featuring big-headed giants (gigantes y cabezudos) knocked over a market stall of tomatoes after one of their masks was bumped off their head by teenagers. Spectators along the parade route picked up the fallen tomatoes and began throwing them at others, sparking a city-wide food-fight which became an annual tradition. A lack of religious connotations led the regime of Francisco Franco to ban the festival until a mock-funeral was held with a coffin-clad tomato carried through the streets in full procession. La Tomatina resumed in the late 1950s and has been drawing thousands of tomato-throwers ever since!
Once a Roman colony, Valencia has been occupied by Moroccan and Arab Moors, ruled by a Christian king who established the Kingdom of Valencia, and once stood as the capital of Spain in the 1800s and briefly in the 1930s. Filled with fascinating festivals, from celebrations of paella and ceramics and tomato-throwing to the more solemn but colourful Catholic Holy Week. Fitting for a city with such varied history, the architecture spans Valencian Gothic and Baroque to Art Nouveau to futuristic creations from famed architect Santiago Calatrava.
The hidden treasures of El Castell de Guadalest and it’s medieval castle, endlessly charming artisan shops, castles, and cafes in the winding streets of Requena and Alicante, to remote islands off the Costa Blanca, it’s a bonanza of tomatoes and culture in Valencia’s Spain.
You've been warned! Let’s go!!
Day 0 // Saturday // Arrival in Barcelona
After arrival and immigration, we’ll head right to the train to Valencia, check-in to hotel and take a quick look around town for dinner.
Day 1 // Sunday // Valencia
After breakfast of Pan Con Tomate and a Spanish latte, we’ll hop on our bikes and take a tour of Valencia through the cobblestone streets of Casco Historico, check out the gothic cathedral, and stop at the central market for a glass of horchata. We’ll make our way to the beach for lunch and siesta before catamaran ride into the sunset.
Day 2 // Monday // Requena
We’ll check out of our hotel and move on to Requena and the old quarter, with its Middle Ages vibe, charming squares, and Moorish castle. After working up an apetito, it’s time for a little cooking competition! We’ll learn the art of paella and the mucho gusto wins a bottle of vino. We’ll toast the winner and spend the evening celebrating with a little taberna-hop around town.
Day 3 // Tuesday // Guadalest
Early breakfast before drive to El Castell de Guadalest with it’s the 11th century fortress overlooking the town of 189 people below. Afterwards take a 4WD safari through to Sierra Aitana, the highest point of Valencia, with its bizarre rock formations, called Simas de Partagat. After dinner, we’ll head to hotel for a rest before the festival!
Day 4 // Wednesday // Tomatina Festival
Spend the day hurling tomatoes and having them thrown at you! We’ll discuss our throwing-strategy over breakfast before hitting the streets for one of Spain’s most famous festivals. After- party at the end, reddest face wins!
Day 5 // Thursday // Alicante & Cruise to Tabarka
We’ll throw our clothes away and enjoy another Spanish coffee before heading to Alicante on the Costa Blanca. Wander the narrow streets and colourful houses of Barrio de la Santa Cruz in search of a hearty lunch before the climb to Castillo de Santa Barbara where we take in the views of the Mediterranean. Cruise to Tabarca, the smallest inhabited island of Spain.
Day 6 // Friday // Return to Barcelona
We’ll get back on the train to Barcelona for some mandatory bucketlist clicks.
Day 7 // Saturday // Departure
Head to the airport in late afternoon for return flight to Dubai.
Grade: easy, heavy on content.
Activities: Biking, boating, partying, tomatoing.
Accomo and meals: 3/4 star double sharing, dinners excluded.
Cost: 7500 AED excl. flights.
Flight schedule is based on Emirates DXB BCN Aug 27 / Sep 03: EK 255+188.
Visa: Schengen visa rules apply.
See yah at Tomatina ?
Piotr / 050 4848238 / [email protected]
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Dubai International, P O Box 2525,Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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