The small town of Buñol is an ideal place for those who want to enjoy the typical landscapes of the Spanish settlements, as well as for those who like unusual and slightly crazy activities. Buñol was a simple small town, but one event now makes it one of the most popular destinations in Spain - La Tomatina.
The Spanish municipality of Buñol is part of the province of Valencia, Oia de Buñol district. The area of the town is 112.4 square kilometers, and the population is slightly more than 10 thousand people. It is a typical Spanish town where the local people make a living by growing olives, grapes and almonds. But this lasts almost the whole year, and one week in the summer turns Buñol into a tourist center with a well-developed infrastructure, which is ready to receive thousands of tourists. Of course, this is the time of the world famous festival of La Tomatina.
La Tomatina Festival is held every year on the last Wednesday of August. Although, in fact, the festivities last a whole week, starting on Monday. At this time, tourists from almost all over the world come to Buñol. Almost 40 thousand people participate in the festival every year.
You can get to Buñol by car or public transport. The town is located near Valencia (only 40 kilometers), so tourists often stop there, and then go to Buñol by bus. By the way, during La Tomatina it is very difficult to find housing in Buñol itself, so many who wish to take part in the tomato battles rent housing in all nearby settlements.
The origin of the tradition of throwing tomatoes at each other is not exactly known. There are two versions of this. One penetrates deep into history and says that one day a noble nobleman came to the market and began to play a musical instrument. But he played very badly, so the sellers started throwing vegetables at him, which the crowd liked, and a general scuffle ensued. Another version says that the tradition originated in 1945. Then at the festival there was a procession of people dressed in huge dolls. Someone from the crowd pushed the participants, and a fight broke out. Everything that was on the nearby counters was used. The young people liked the massacre, and they gathered again the next year, but for the purpose of entertainment, and not with aggression.
Which version is true is not very important now. The main thing is that annually 130 tons of ripe tomatoes go to a mass entertainment called La Tomatina. The holiday is popular with both locals and tourists. In 1957, the authorities banned the festival due to the fact that people were injured in the battles. However, the people took up arms, the tomato battles had to be returned. But today there are strict rules for participation in the battle, which prohibit the use of rudeness and injuring people. In fact, such a scary tomato carnage from afar is a friendly and fun entertainment that will forever remain in your memory. By the way, on the streets of the town, the authorities are installing special showers for this time so that the people can put themselves in order. In addition to the battle with tomatoes, other entertainments are also provided during the festival - trying to get Spanish ham from a high slippery pillar.
Spending time in Buñol can be really unusual and fun, because there is no such festival anywhere else.
On August 29, in the town of Buñol in the east of Spain, 40 kilometers west of Valencia, a traditional harvest festival will be held, famous for the fun entertainment of the tomato battle. Every year, thousands of tourists come to Tomatina to throw tomatoes at each other. Since 2013, and the right to participate in the battle began to charge a fee, ...
The famous Tomatina festival, known for its tomato slaughter, will take place in Buñol, Spain, on 30 August. Every year this event attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world - for the right to leave the tomatoes in the crowd since 2013, they began to charge a fee in order to somehow restrict the flow ...
Security measures will be strengthened during the annual celebration of La Tomatina on the streets of the Spanish city of Buñol, according to the newspaper El Mundo.
The "battle", where tomatoes are used as throwing weapons, will take place on 30 August. It is planned that this year about 40 thousand people will come to the holiday.
According to a government spokesman ...
Thousands of people took part in a "battle" involving tomatoes as part of the annual celebration of La Tomatina on the streets of the Spanish city of Buñol, the AP agency reported on Wednesday.
According to him, about 160 tons of ripe tomatoes were brought for the event in six trucks. The participants of the holiday, among whom there were many ...
In the tomato battles Tomatina in the Spanish city of Buñol, 22 thousand people took part, reports the Associated Press. This event is held annually and is considered the main "visiting card" of the region.
Trucks brought in 125 tons of tomatoes for the "tomato battle". It is noted that not only local residents, but also numerous ...
Tomatina, known in Spain as the La Tomatina festival, is one of the most popular and attended Spanish festivals, gaining fame throughout the world. The Tomatina Festival takes place in the city of Buñol in the province of Valencia and is the largest tomato festival in Spain, during which more than 150 tons of tomatoes per hour are transformed into juice, spilling through the city streets and coloring every participant in the event.
La Tomatina, or the Day of the Tomato in Spain, has received such widespread publicity that today this red carnage is taking place in several cities of the world at once, having borrowed the idea of the tomato battle in Spain. Among them are the Chinese city of Guangdong province and the Colombian municipality of Sutamarchan.
Want to get a ripe tomato on your forehead? Dive into a puddle of tomato juice? Swim in a variety of styles in the blood-red river? So don't miss the Tomatina festival that takes place in Buñol every last Wednesday of August!
La Tomatina program
The tomato festival in Spain takes place in 3 stages:
- During the first stage of the La Tomatina festival, one of the participants must climb onto a tall wooden slippery pillar, previously coated with soap, and take possession of a piece of jamon, which is at the top of the pillar. This is followed by a sigal signifying the opening of the Tomatina.
- At 11:00, the tomato battle begins, in Spain broadcast on many television channels. Most of the Tomatina participants are dressed in white to highlight the colorfulness of the holiday.
- Well, the third stage, of course, is the washing of houses and the cleaning of Bunol from the tomato mash that engulfs the central streets of the city during the Tomatina holiday. Cleaning is done with ordinary water supply hoses.
One should not think that people from all over the world come to Buñol for the sole purpose of throwing tomatoes at each other. The La Tomatina festival lasts a whole week, and its program also includes performances by bands, dances, fireworks and other events.
The history of the appearance of the holiday of Tomatina
Version I: The musician is to blame for everything
There are various versions of the appearance of La Tomatina in Spain. Some historians claim that the Tomatina festival dates back to a long time. A certain local ruler came to the market in the town of Buñol, playing some musical instrument. He did it so badly that the locals began to grab tomatoes from the trays and toss them at the inept musician. Gradually, all those present were drawn into the tomato fight.
Version II: Showdown with tomatoes in Spain
Another version claims that the history of the appearance of the Tomatina holiday is associated with a festive procession in 1945, in which "giants" traditionally participated - people carrying huge human figures over their heads, and themselves hiding in their robes.
A group of young people, wanting to stand out from the crowd, began to push the "giants". One of the mummers fell, and when he got up with difficulty, he began to beat everyone who came to hand. A scuffle ensued. The case took place near stalls with vegetables and the fighters staged a tomato fight until the forces of law and order dispersed the fighters. Mutual grievances were not forgotten, and a year later, again on the last Wednesday of August, the fighters gathered in the same place to continue the showdown, using tomatoes, which became symbols of the summer holiday in Spain.
This time they brought tomatoes with them so as not to pay for spoiled goods, as a year ago. The tomato fight will take place again, until the police stop the "carnage". In subsequent years, the authorities constantly tried to prevent what was already popularly called La Tomatina, but in one way or another, since then, the day of tomatoes in Spain has taken place from year to year.
In 1950, the authorities of Buñol did not interfere with the celebration of Tomatina. A year later, some of the Tomatina participants were detained by the police and taken to the city prison. But other townspeople showed solidarity with the "fighters" - they expressed their protest so actively that the detainees were released. Under the pressure of the townspeople, the Tomatina holiday was finally officially authorized by the authorities.
"The funeral of a tomato in Spain"
Since then, more and more people have participated in the Tomatina festival every year, and the tomato battle in Spain has been learned in other places. From year to year, the entertainment began to go further and further, the participants were no longer limited only to the tomato fight, in Spain they also began to pour water over each other, throw them into fountains, and also attack people who did not participate in the massacre, but only watched what was happening.
Naturally, among the injured spectators of Tomatina, there were often very influential persons. And again, the city authorities banned Tomatina, and the violators were threatened with heavy fines and even imprisonment. The townspeople were so upset that La Tomatina was not held in 1957 that they organized a crowded demonstration, calling it "Tomato's Funeral". In the center of the procession, a group of guys carried a coffin with a huge tomato, and an orchestra, playing funeral marches, led the procession.
Tomatina in Spain - an international festival
Starting in 1959, under pressure from the townspeople, the municipality again allowed La Tomatina, but with the obligatory observance of certain rules. For example, one of them was giving a signal, which meant the beginning and end of the Tomatina holiday. It was strictly forbidden to throw tomatoes before the start signal and after the final one.
In 1975, La Tomatina was patronized by the monks of the Order of Saint Luis Bertrand, patron saint of Buñol, who began to supply tomatoes for the tomato festival in Spain (before that, the townspeople brought tomatoes with them). Since 1980, the city hall has taken over the organization and supply of the holiday, and every year the number of tons of scattered tomatoes and the number of participants in the Tomatina festival in Spain, who began to come from all over the world, began to increase. Surprisingly, the huge and every year increasing number of participants in Tomatina or the Day of Tomatoes in Spain has not yet given rise to a single serious incident.
Admirers of La Tomatina should be grateful to the townspeople of Buñol, who overcame the inertness of the authorities and, with their perseverance and love of life, ensured that the La Tomatina festival survived to this day as it is: a cheerful, unforgettable, crowded folk festival.
Rules for participation in La Tomatina
If you are going to participate in Tomatina, you must follow the following rules:
- Do not bring bottles or any items that could lead to an accident.
- You cannot tear clothes on the participants of the Tomatina holiday.
- Crush the tomato before tossing it.
- We must give way to trucks bringing tomatoes to Buñol for Tomatina.
- After the second signal, the tomato fight should be stopped immediately.
When and how to visit the Tomatina festival in Spain
So, Tomatina is held in Buñol, located 50 km from Valencia. The culmination of the tomato festival in Spain - the tomato massacre - takes place on the last Wednesday of August.
There are three ways to participate in the Tomatina Festival:
- Take bus 265a in Valencia, which will take you directly to Buñol.
- Take the C3 suburban train from Valencia-Sant Isidre station.
- Take the A3 motorway towards Madrid / Aeropuerto and take exit 322 VP- 3031 / Buñol.
If you are planning to spend an unforgettable time in Spain and become a member of one of the holidays of this hospitable country, The center of services for business and life in Spain "Spain in Russian" reminds you that you can contact us for any question and we will organize your trip in the best way! Contact us by phone numbers listed on the site!
Discover a selection of the best spots and attractions in Buñol
It is a public park and is arguably a favorite spot for most locals as well as tourists. It offers a magnificent view of the river due to its location on the western side of the city. This is the place for a number of cultural and festive events. In addition, there is a chapel and an open-air auditorium next to the park.
Calle San Luis, 46, 46360 Buñol, Valencia, Spain
Tourist place
It is one of the most excellent natural tourist destinations in the city. This is where you will find a cave, pool and waterfall. The beauty of the falls can be best enjoyed during the rainy season. You can take a bath here. It is also a good place to enjoy a picnic.
46360 Bunol, Valencia, Spain
Cemetery
As the name suggests, this is basically a cemetery where you will come across over 200 graves. All these graves are freemasons. You will find freemason symbols on the headstones of the graves. Also you can find some other symbols on the gravestones. It is a unique experience to see so many graves in one place.
Buñol, Valencia, Spain
This is a famous church in the city. Besides being a church, it is also home to the city's archaeological museum. Thus, you get the benefit of a double path. You can pray in church. Then, visit the museum to see some of the amazing archaeological structures or works.
29780 Nerja, Malaga, Bunol, Spain
Again, this place is well worth a visit in the city. Located in the mountainous area surrounding the city, it is full of beauty. As this is a hill area, so you may prefer to hike here. In addition, the area is renowned for its amazing pictorial splendor.
Avenida Sautuola, S / N, 39330 Santillana del Mar, Bunol, Spain
the festival
The ideal time to party is within three days. Celebrated on September 6, the inhabitants of the Guadix are dressed as "Cascamorras" and Oves to Bassa to capture the statue. The inhabitants of Basa throw eggs and colored water at them. Later they clean off the dirt and are well served. The party, food, music continues for three days.
If you type in the name of the Spanish city of Buñol in any search engine, most sources will tell you about the Tomato Battle held here once a year. It is not surprising, because it is thanks to this that a small settlement with a semi-rural way of life became famous. It is home to only 9,000 people who are engaged in the cultivation of almonds, grapes and olives - the province as it is. However, this is where the charm of Bunol lies, different from the brightness and splendor of the big city.
Ancient buildings, narrow cobbled streets curving at incredible angles, cute cafes on the ground floors of houses with round verandas - it is impossible not to fall in love with this city. The tallest building here is a small church, the rest do not exceed three floors. At first glance, it seems that the buildings are "poked" here at random (however, you will not be far from the truth). But this is the special charm of the city, which is so unlike modern megacities.
And some amazing calmness, regularity. No fuss, no running passers-by. At the same time, the language will not turn to call the city quiet. Temperamental Spaniards are talking in a raised voice in transport, on the streets, in shops. And in the market, out of habit, your head can be dizzy. The bargaining seller and buyer will prove their case so violently that one might think that murder is about to take place here.
Even if you are planning a visit to Buñol for the sake of Tomatina, it is worth arriving a few days earlier - this way you will get to know the real Spanish province, simple, atmospheric, beautiful.
Castillo de Bunol
The ruins of the castle, which even looks the same age as the city. In the past, strong fortress walls were supposed to protect Buñol from enemy soldiers (or at least hold them back until reinforcements arrived). Now, nothing remains of the once serious structure - two towers (one half destroyed), a part of the wall and a small castle square. But all the other fortifications collapsed not in the midst of the assault, but simply from old age - in 1911.
Now, small museums dedicated to the history of the city are organized inside the towers, and the tops have been equipped for viewing platforms - from here a wonderful view of the surroundings opens.
The castle square was adapted for holding unusual concerts - "Musical Nights". Spanish performers often play here from dusk to dawn in summer.
In addition, you can just walk around the city, enjoy the provincial life of a tiny Spanish settlement, feel its atmosphere and gentle, modest beauty.
Leisure
The main event of the year in Buñol is undoubtedly the tomato battle of Tomatina, followed by the Farewell to Summer Festival.
Unfortunately, the town is very small, tourism is situational here, therefore large amusement parks or shopping centers have not been built here. All that remains is to stroll slowly through the surroundings.
If you are more than satisfied with the option to just get some fresh air and a snack, you can go to Paseo San Luis - this is a local city park. On the territory there are comfortable benches, a huge amount of all kinds of vegetation, an open-air bar and even a small chapel. In August, it hosts a two-week music festival. So if you are lucky enough to visit Buñol at this particular time of the year, be sure to check out the light.
How to get there
From Valencia take the A-3 motorway, from Alicante take the A-7 motorway, from Madrid take the A-3 motorway to Valencia and on to Buñol. A shuttle service is available from Valencia Airport.
Hotels
You can stay in Buñol in almost any house - many residents rent "extra" rooms to tourists. If you have firmly decided that you will stay at the hotel, we will try to help you choose the most successful one.
Condes de Buño, which has two stars in its piggy bank, should not be discounted at all (all the more so since you will not find more comfortable hotels here anyway). It offers parking, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant on the ground floor, cozy rooms for one or two.
Hotel Torre de Alborache, located just a stone's throw from the city center, has no stars at all. But it offers guests, in addition to cozy rooms, relaxation by the pool, lunch at a local cafe and a walk in the park, which is laid out around the building.
Restaurants
Unfortunately, there are no luxury restaurants in Buñol. They would just go broke waiting for visitors. However, this does not mean that you cannot have a tasty snack in a simple restaurant.
Posada Venta Pilar is loved by all guests of the city and many locals. Here they perfectly know how to cook national dishes. Gazpacho, paella, tortilla - there are only dozens of types of these dishes. And also branded salads, cookies, cakes - not to come off.
La Boheme café will delight you with delicious coffee and muffins for every taste. And fast food fans can drop by the light at La Pizzeria. The popular all over the world tortilla with cheese and various fillings is incredibly good here.
Shopping
For shopping, it is best to go to the local market, where you can find delicious fruits and vegetables, painted dishes, as well as souvenirs, which are easy to pass for homemade items made by local craftsmen. Here you can find jewelry, cloth bags, trouser belts, and everything at very attractive prices.
