Valencia has been a haven and an inspiration for culture during many centuries. Nowadays, cultural expression is even more profuse than ever. Being a Mediterranean city and following in that Mediterranean tradition of public spectacle, many of these performances take place in the open air, supported and promoted by both official bodies and private entities.

Fiestas

Various traditional fiestas -both religious and pagan- are celebrated in Valencia: they feature a mix of ritual and innovation, gunpowder and music, and, most notably, fire, whose noisiest visual and olfactory manifestation is the fireworks to which the Valencian people add their imaginative expert touches.

Of all the Valencian festivals on the calendar, we can highlight Las Fallas, which takes place between the 14th and 19th of March. It is a fiesta with a deep-rooted tradition in Valencia and the surrounding areas. Today this festival has become a very important tourist attraction.

Its origins are simple: a straightforward affair consisting of burning the waste produced in carpenters’ workshops. But the inventive Valencian people have brought all the characteristics of their own culture and history to this tradition.

It could be said that the carnival belongs to Valencia capital, where the models made for the fiesta are rich in satire and representative of the picaresque style, and when burned, purge everything evil and problematic. In this fiesta various aspects that define Valencian culture –fire, music, gunpowder, and partying in the streets- come together.

Cinema, music and theatre

Every October La Mostra festival is held in Valencia, a point of reference for Mediterranean cinema. The various awards given out in the official section of this festival depict a palm tree.

The Valencian capital is also home to a festival dedicated to performing arts called VEO or Valencia Escena Oberta (Valencia Open Stage). The works featured can be seen throughout the city in the street, in Valencian train stations, and in old factories, as well as in theatres. The festival is directed by the Valencian actor Toni Cantó.

Jazz at the IVAM is a cycle of jazz concerts which is celebrated in the IVAM's main hall. The cycle will take place on Thursdays during the month of September, as has been the case for previous cycles since 2002. Entrance is free, although seating may be limited.

Valencia at night

Valencia is famous for its lively nightlife, which motivates people to make weekend ‘escapes’ from nearby cities in order to live the nightlife, such as following the trail of the long-established ‘Ruta de Bacalao’ (‘Techo Route’), or the ‘Ruta Destroy’ (‘Destroy Route’).

The city has a distinctive, lively, non-stop atmosphere. Enjoy great food in restaurants open until very late at night, and discover the city’s live music and numerous lively locations: pubs, clubs and cafe theatres.

It is also interesting that it does not seem to matter what time of year it is, or even what day of the week, because although most leisure activities take place on weekends, in Valencia they are also available midweek. This is nothing new, however: the city and its inhabitants have lived like this for hundreds of years. It is a way of life that never puts daily routine at risk, but simply makes things more enjoyable. Fun and noise are an important part of Valencian society, and a source of much envy for some foreign visitors who are impressed by the variety of different people that you can meet here: in Valencia there are no age or class boundaries.

The maritime quarter near the port has always had a reputation for Valencian partygoers, and is currently being renovated, which means that it is filling up again with lively pubs and clubs. The old warehouses in the docks are also being reutilized for a vast club called ‘Dockas’: the original structure has been respected whilst different rooms and terraces have also been added.