In the city bunyol or blazing. Tomatina holiday in Spain - all tomatoes in one Buñol. Version II: Showdown with tomatoes in Spain
Tomatina, known in Spain as the La Tomatina festival, is one of the most popular and most visited Spanish festivals, gaining fame all over 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 turn into juice, spilling through the city streets and coloring every participant in the event.
La Tomatina or Tomato Day in Spain has received so much publicity that today this red massacre is taking place in several cities around the world, which borrowed the idea of the tomato battle in Spain. Among them are the Chinese city of Guangdong province and the Colombian municipality of Sutamarchan.
Do you want to get hit in the forehead with a ripe tomato? Dive into a puddle of tomato juice? Have fun swimming in different styles in the blood-red river? So, don't miss the Tomatina festival, which 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 pole, previously coated with soap, and take possession of a piece of jamon, which is on top of the pole. This is followed by a sigal, signifying the opening of Tomatina.
- At 11:00 the tomato battle begins, broadcast in Spain 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 washing the houses and cleaning Buñol from the tomato mess that consumes the central streets of the city during the Tomatina holiday. Cleaning is done with ordinary water hoses.
You shouldn't think that people come from all over the world 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 musical groups, dancing, fireworks and other events.
The history of the Tomatina holiday
Version I: The musician is to blame for everything
There are different versions of the appearance of La Tomatina in Spain. Some historians claim that the Tomatina festival began a long time ago. A certain local ruler appeared at the market of the town of Buñol, playing some kind of musical instrument. He did it so badly that local residents began to grab tomatoes from the trays and throw them at the incompetent musician. Gradually, everyone present was drawn into the tomato fight.
Version II: Showdown with tomatoes in Spain
Another version claims that the history of the emergence of the Tomatina holiday is connected with a festive procession in 1945, which traditionally involved “giants” - people carrying huge human figures above their heads, while 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 fight ensued. The incident took place near stalls with vegetables and the fighters staged a tomato fight until law enforcement forces 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 in Spain have become symbols of the summer holiday.
This time they brought tomatoes with them so as not to pay for spoiled goods, like a year ago. The tomato fight will take place again until the police stop the “massacre.” In subsequent years, the authorities constantly tried to prevent what was already popularly called La Tomatina, but in one way or another, since then, Tomato Day in Spain has taken place year after year.
In 1950, the Buñol authorities did not interfere with the Tomatina festival. A year later, some of Tomatina's 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 permitted by the authorities.
"Funeral of a Tomato in Spain"
Since then, every year more people took part in the Tomatina festival, and the Tomatino Battle in Spain became known in other places. Year after year, the entertainment began to go further and further, the participants were no longer limited to just a tomato fight, in Spain they also began to pour water on 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 people. Once again, city authorities banned Tomatina and threatened violators with heavy fines and even imprisonment. The townspeople were so upset that La Tomatina was not held in 1957 that they organized a large demonstration, calling it “The Funeral of the Tomato.” In the center of the procession, a group of guys carried a coffin with a huge tomato, and the procession was led by an orchestra playing funeral marches.
Tomatina in Spain - a festival of international scale
Beginning in 1959, under pressure from the townspeople, the municipality again allowed La Tomatina to take place, but subject to certain rules. For example, one of them was the giving of a signal, which meant the beginning and end of the Tomatina holiday. It was strictly forbidden to throw tomatoes before the starting signal and after the finishing signal.
In 1975, the patronage of La Tomatina was taken over by the monks of the Order of St. Louis Bertrand, the patron saint of Buñol, who began supplying tomatoes for the tomato festival in Spain (before that, the townspeople brought tomatoes with them). Since 1980, the mayor’s office has been involved in organizing and supplying 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 planet, began to increase. Surprisingly, the huge and every year increasing number of participants in Tomatina or Tomato Day 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 inertia of the authorities and, with their perseverance and love of life, ensured that the La Tomatina festival has survived to this day in the form it is: a cheerful, unforgettable, crowded folk festival.
Rules of participation in La Tomatina
When planning to participate in Tomatina, you must comply with the following rules:
- You cannot bring bottles or any objects that could cause an accident.
- It is forbidden to tear the clothes of the participants of the Tomatina festival.
- Before throwing a tomato, it should be crushed.
- 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 become a participant in the Tomatina festival:
- Take bus 265a from Valencia, which will take you directly to Buñol.
- Take the C3 commuter 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 take part in one of the hospitable country’s holidays, The service center for business and life in Spain “Spain in Russian” reminds you that you can contact us with any question and we will organize your trip in the best possible way! Contact us by phone numbers listed on the website!
If you type the name of the Spanish city of Buñol into any search engine, most sources will tell you about the Tomato Battle held here once a year. Not surprising, because it was thanks to this that a small settlement with a semi-rural way of life became famous. There are only 9,000 people here who grow almonds, grapes and olives - a province as it is. However, this is precisely the charm of Buñol, different from the brightness and glitter of the big city.
Ancient buildings, narrow cobbled streets bending at incredible angles, cute cafes on the first floors of houses with round verandas - it’s 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 were “stuffed” here at random (however, you will not be far from the truth). But this is the special charm of the city, which is so different from modern megacities.
And some amazing peace and regularity. No fuss, no running passers-by. At the same time, it would be hard to call the city quiet. Temperamental Spaniards talk in raised voices in transport, on the streets, and in shops. And in the market, being unaccustomed to it can make your head spin. The bargaining seller and buyer will prove that they are right so furiously that one might think that a murder is about to happen here.
Even if you are planning a visit to Buñol specifically for 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 a castle, which even looks the same age as the city. Previously, strong fortress walls should have protected Buñol from enemy soldiers (or at least delayed them until reinforcements arrived). Now all that remains of the once serious structure is two towers (one is half destroyed), part of the wall and a small castle square. But all the other fortifications collapsed not at the height of the assault, but simply from old age - in 1911.
Nowadays, small museums dedicated to the history of the city are organized inside the towers, and the tops are equipped with observation decks - from here a wonderful view of the surrounding area opens.
Castle Square was adapted for holding unusual concerts - “Musical Nights”. Spanish performers often play here from dusk to dawn in the summer.
In addition, you can simply 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 Tomatina tomato battle and the subsequent summer farewell festival.
Unfortunately, the town is very small, tourism here is situational, so large amusement parks or shopping centers have never been built here. The only thing left to do is take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood.
If you are more than happy with the option of just getting 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. A two-week music festival takes place here in August. So if you are lucky enough to visit Buñol at this time of year, be sure to stop by.
How to get there
From Valencia - along the A-3 highway, from Alicante - along the A-7 highway, from Madrid - along the A-3 highway to Valencia and further to Buñol. Transfers are available from Valencia Airport.
Hotels
You can stay in almost any house in Buñol - many residents rent out “extra” rooms to tourists. If you have firmly decided that you will stay at a hotel, we will try to help you choose the most successful one.
Condes de Buño, which has two stars, should not be discounted (especially since you still won’t find more comfortable hotels here). It offers parking, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant on the ground floor, and cozy rooms for one or two.
The Torre de Alborache Hotel, located just a stone's throw from the city center, has no stars at all. But in addition to cozy rooms, it offers guests relaxation by the pool, lunch at a local cafe and a walk in the park that is located around the building.
Restaurants
There are unfortunately no luxury restaurants in Buñol. They would simply go broke waiting for visitors. However, this does not mean that you cannot have a tasty snack in a simple establishment.
Posada Venta Pilar is loved by all visitors to the city and many local residents. They know how to cook national dishes very well here. Gazpacho, paella, tortilla - there are dozens of types of these dishes alone. And also signature salads, cookies, cakes - you won’t be able to stop eating.
Cafe La Boheme will delight you with delicious coffee and muffins for every taste. And fast food fans can stop by La Pizzeria. The flatbread, popular all over the world, with cheese and various fillings is indescribably 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 that can easily pass for homemade items made by local craftsmen. Here you can find jewelry, rag bags, and trouser belts, and everything at very attractive prices.
On August 29, the town of Buñol in eastern Spain, 40 kilometers west of Valencia, will host a traditional harvest festival famous for its fun entertainment - the tomato battle. Every year thousands of tourists come to Tomatina to throw tomatoes at each other. Since 2013, they began to charge a fee for the right to participate in the battle...
The famous tomato festival La Tomatina, known for its tomato massacre, will take place in the Spanish city of Buñol (Valencia province) on August 30. Every year this event attracts tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world - they began to charge a fee for the right to throw tomatoes in the crowd in 2013 in order to somehow limit the flow...
Security measures will be strengthened during the annual La Tomatina festival on the streets of the Spanish city of Buñol, El Mundo newspaper reports.
The “battle,” where tomatoes are used as throwing weapons, will take place on August 30. 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” where tomatoes were thrown as weapons as part of the annual La Tomatina festival on the streets of the Spanish city of Buñol, the AP news agency reported on Wednesday.
According to him, about 160 tons of ripe tomatoes were brought for the event on six trucks. Participants of the celebration, among whom there were many...
22 thousand people took part in the Tomatina tomato fights in the Spanish city of Buñol, reports the Associated Press. This event is held annually and is considered the main “calling card” of the region.
For the “tomato battle,” the trucks brought 125 tons of tomatoes. It is noted that not only local residents, but also numerous...
Discover a selection of the best places and attractions in Buñol
This is a public park and probably a favorite place for most locals as well as tourists. It offers great views of the river due to its location on the western side of the city. It is the location 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
This is one of the most excellent natural tourist spots in the city. This is the place where you will find a cave, a pool and a waterfall. The beauty of the falls can be best enjoyed during the monsoon 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 Masonic graves. You will find Masonic symbols on gravestones. Also you can find some other symbols on tombstones. It is a unique experience to see such a large number of 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. This way you benefit two ways. 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 worth a visit in the city. Situated in the mountainous area surrounding the city it is full of beauty. Since this is a hilly area, so you may prefer trekking here. Additionally, the area is known for its amazing visual splendor.
Avenida Sautuola, S/N, 39330 Santillana del Mar, Bunol, Spain
festival
The ideal time to party is within three days. Celebrated on September 6, the people of Guadix dress as "Cascamorras" and Oves to Basa to capture the statue. The people of Basa throw eggs and colored water at them. Later they clean off the dirt and serve well. The party, the food, the music continues for three days.
Good afternoon. The Tomatina festival in Spain is the most colorful event of the summer. Imagine hundreds of tons of fresh tomatoes that you can throw at each other, and you won’t get anything for it. In addition to the epic battle itself, they cook paella all night, storm wooden poles and swim in a pool of tomato juice. It will be fun without wearing white.
Spain. Valenicia. City of Buñol
The Spanish tomato fight La Tomatina takes place annually on the last Wednesday of August.
The holiday is very popular, attracting hundreds of tourists from all over the world. For example: in 2011, a city with a population of 9,000 people counted 40,000 people during Tomatina.
That's why housing costs book in advance.
Unprohibited
At exactly 11:00 in the city of Buñol, a signal is heard - a firecracker explodes on the roof of the town hall.
This means that the most picturesque and original holiday, La Tomatina, has begun, when tens of thousands of people throw ripe tomatoes at each other.
It seems that this town near Valencia turns into a modern art installation for one day. The central square, city streets, walls and shop windows are covered with an even layer of tomatoes. Although, it’s worth saying right away: all this tomato madness lasts exactly 2 hours.
Several times they tried to ban La Tomatina, but this caused such a storm of protests among the local population that the authorities gave up.
The only time Tomatina was canceled was during Franco's reign. The dictator recognized it as having absolutely no religious significance, and therefore useless.
Good tone for a tomato battle
Okay, they couldn’t ban the battle at all, but they worked out the rules of engagement.
- You cannot tear or damage your opponents' clothes.
- Throwing anything other than tomatoes is prohibited.
- No bottles, stones, sharp objects.
- Before throwing a tomato, remember it in your hand so that it lands “soft” on your opponent.
- It is impossible to prevent the movement of trucks on the streets.
- No obvious aggression, just fun.
The first point about clothing may alarm you. How can you not ruin your clothes when you are bombarded with ripe tomatoes for 2 hours? So don't wear anything valuable. Many people come to tomato fights in swimsuits, shorts, or anything they don’t mind.
Where it all began
The festival itself is a celebration of the harvest, the end of summer. Held in honor of the patron saint of the city, Saint Louis Bertrand.
There are several versions of how it all began.
According to the first version, the young people decided to make fun of government officials who were playing musical instruments in the market. Young people grabbed tomatoes from trays and threw them at the musicians. They played very poorly.
The musicians also began to respond to the crowd with vegetable shells. It all ended in a massacre. Somehow I liked it and it stuck.
According to another version, it all started in 1945. A parade took place in the city with “giants”-strongmen who carried huge figures on their shoulders. The people themselves were hidden under long clothes. It seemed as if giants were walking along the main square.
Due to a strong crush, one of these “giants” fell, became confused, and became very angry. Out of anger, he began to grab vegetables from the trays and throw them at the crowd. And so a fight ensued. The parade was quickly forgotten; everyone enjoyed throwing tomatoes at each other.
And that is not all
Since the 80s, participants in the massacre do not need to spend money on tomatoes. Like spoiling someone else's goods on the market.
Everything is quickly delivered to Plaza del Pueblo and distributed to everyone. The shells are brought in by trucks, but it seems there are never enough of them.
But that’s not all that Tomatina will surprise you with.
- The holiday itself officially begins after someone manages to climb onto a tall wooden pole smeared with soap. Its height is approximately 2 floors.
- The winner receives a luxurious prize - pork ham (jamon).
- Musicians perform in the streets and fireworks go off.
- After 2 hours of battle have expired, everyone has the opportunity to swim in the pool of tomato juice.
- At the same time, there is a fun fair, everyone dances, eats, and completely gives themselves over to the fun.
- The city does not sleep at night. An annual competition is held: cooking the best paella followed by tasting.
Video
Time of Tomatina
By the way, you will need to buy a ticket. There are two options:
- directly in the city before the start of the festival.
- can be ordered through the website http://latomatina.ru.
Attention! The number of tickets is limited.
What is the price
Participation fee: 10 euros.
Official site: www.tomatina.es
How to get there
- By car
From Valencia
Take Avenida del Cid towards Madrid, along the A¬3 highway. At exit 332 (Salida 332), follow the signs for Buñol. Bright posters usually appear before the holiday, so don’t miss it.
From Alicante
From the city, follow the signs for Valencia, take the A7 highway to exit 332 (Salida 332), you can easily find your way there.
From Madrid
On the A¬3 highway, direction Valencia city. Take exit Salida 319. Continue on to Buñol.
- Get there by train
From Barcelona
Barcelona-Valencia, the train leaves from Estación de Sant station to the city of Valencia, where there is a change to Buñol. The journey will take 3 hours.
From Madrid
From Madrid to Valencia by AVE train, the journey takes 1 hour 35 minutes.
Address: Spain, Buñol
Buñol on the map
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