The countdown to las Fallas has begun

27th February marks the start of Valencia’s most international festivities: Las Fallas. On the last Sunday in February and against the backdrop of the Serrano Towers, Valencia’s Fallera Mayor (the queen of the festivities) will make the traditional Crida (invitation) to those from Valencia, and the rest of the world, who want to enjoy the spectacle of Las Fallas in 2011. At 2.00 pm each day from 1^st until 19th March, Mascletaes (rhythmic gunpowder displays) will be held in the Town Square, much to the delight of the massive public which attends this spectacular sound show, so characteristic of the city’s festivities. The festivity's main week begins on 15th March, when more than 700 monuments representing and satirizing local, national and international events invade the city's streets. On 17th and 18th March, the falleros and falleras will don their finest, natural silk, regional costumes and set off to present more than 40 tonnes of carnations to La Gepedudeta, the patron of Valencia, as part of the La Ofrenda de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados (the Offering of Flowers to our Lady of the Forsaken), by far the most emotive of the festivity's acts. And as a climax to this week-long feast for the senses, during the evening of 19th March La Nit de la Cremà is held, when all the monuments are burnt, thus welcoming in the spring and the wait for the next edition of Las Fallas. For more information, visit: www.fallasfromvalencia.com