English Español Français العربية Русский

RSS Newsletters

Radio TV

LANGUAGE
English Español Français العربية Русский Documentary CCTV+

Radio TV

By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

I agree

00:55

Valencia's 19-day Fallas festival came to an end on Tuesday (March 19) night as ornate sculptures were set ablaze amid fireworks lighting up the skies above Spain's seaside city.

Made of materials such as wood, plaster and paper mache, months of painstaking work go into constructing the 'ninots' - Valencian for dolls.

Some ninots were the height of two-story buildings but were not spared being burned to the ground in an explosive finale.

Firefighters use a hose during the planned burning of a giant sculpture on the last day of Fallas Festival. /Eva Manez/Reuters

READ MORE

Where is Flight MH-370?

Meet the 'Chinosaurs'

Why young Chinese are returning to the country

The central sculpture placed near City Hall featured two doves fighting over an olive branch. Its creator, artist Escif, said his piece exposed the contradiction that in order to have peace there must be war.

The annual tradition marks the change of seasons and peak with a five-day fiesta of street dancing and fireworks commemorating Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

Hundreds of sculptures are scattered across the city, some poking fun at local and international politicians. The public are invited to vote on their favorite, with only two saved from the bonfire to join a select number of ninots at the local Fallas Museum.