Spain’s La Tomatina
Some food festivals take place outdoors, others are luxury gourmet affairs, while others deliberately aim to get messy. La Tomatina, held each year in the Spanish town of Buñol, is not so much a celebration of the tomato as a means to use them as projectile weapons. 50,000 revellers pack into the town square ready to hurl an estimated 150,000 squashed, ripe tomatoes at each other. After the celebration, fire trucks hose away the tomato juice, leaving the cobblestone polished clean from the tomato’s acidity.
Length of Trip : La Tomatina lasts about an hour.
Cost :
It's a 10 euro ticket to participate in the food fight.
Best time to go : La Tomatina takes place the final Wednesday of August
Wheelchair friendly : No
Family friendly : Due to the crowds, mayhem and presence of alcohol, La Tomatina is not advised for kids.
Where to eat :
Tomatoes will no doubt be on the menu at the highly rated Posada Vente Pilar< and La Pizzaria (1 Calle Doctor Garcés Vericat)
Official Site :
Visit latomatina.info for more information about the event.
Where to Stay :
Two basic but serviceable hotels are located close to the centre of town. Hotel Restaurante Condes de Bunol and Posada Venta Pilar.
When staying in Barcelona, we recommend the Fairmont Barcelona.
Getting There :
Buñol is a small town located 38km from Valencia. Various budget airlines (like RyanAir and Easyjey) from from London Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow directly to Valencia. From Barcelona, it's about a 4 hour drive to Buñol. From Madrid, it should take you just over 3 hours.
Note from Robin :
Whatever you're wearing, consider it toast after the event. Pick up a pair of cheap clothes and closed-toe shoes (flip flops are not advised). For photos, use a waterproof camera. If you're planning on spending the night in Buñol, definitely book accommodation well in advance as things book up fast. Don't forget to squash the tomatoes before you throw them, and stay clear of the lorries!
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