Friday 26th to Sunday, 28th April.
The Fallers Association of the World is bringing to Andorra la Vella, Andorra (Pyrenees) the energy and excitement of the famous Festival of the Falles (fires) of Valencia, Spain (huge, complex floats of fantasy people and animals sculpted out of wood, covered in cardboard and then painted and filled with fireworks. Eventually the fallas are burnt in huge bonfires). All the events are open and free, but with limited space in view of fire risks.
v FRIDAY: at 24h at the Parc Central car park, official ‘planting’ of the Falla of Andorra la Vella.
SATURDAY: 11h A parade of Falles from the Plaça de la Rotonda to Plaça Príncep Benlloc. This will probably include men, women and children in period costume as well as the elaborate sculpted floats. 12h A traditional town cry from the balcony of the Casa Comuna, Plaça Príncep Benlloch 13.30h A Fideua noodle dish for all in the marquee in Parc Central Car park. 18h Offering to the Virgin of the Defenceless in procession from the Carrer de la Unió to the Plaça Príncep Benlloch. 19.30h Mass in the parish church of Sant Esteve in the same square. 23h Firework display in the bus station car park. 23.30h Disco in the marquee in Parc Central car park.
SUNDAY : 9h. Loud street wake up call with a band and a procession travelling between Plaça Príncep Benlloch – Plaça Guillemó – Plaça del Poble, 12h Parade of Moors and Christians statues. A traditional re-enactment of the victory of Christians over the ruling Islamic Moors of Spain in the 13th Century. The processions will leave simultaneously from the carrer de la Unió and from the Plaça Príncep Benlloc meeting at the Plaça de la Rotonda. 13h. Demonstration of Valencian folk dancing in the marquee in Parc Central car park followed at 13.30h by the Castellers d’Andorra building human castles. 14h A Mascletà in the bus station car park.
This is a highly organised series of firecrackers exploding in rhythmic sequence gradually getting louder and louder.
14.30h Paella for all in the marquee in Parc Central car park. 18h Tasting of l’Aigua de València in the same marquee.
19h Parade Plaça de la Rotonda to the carrer de la Unió and back. Presumably again with the great floats and people in historical costumes. 20.30h
Burning of the Falla l’Estoreta and the Falla Gran in the Parc Central car park.
See also Pyrenees travel guide
See also France travel guide
See also Spain travel guide
See also Andorra travel guide
