La Tomatina

Filed in archive A World Away on July 12, 2007

Valencia is known for its history, its culture, and its fun-loving atmosphere. At the end of August, the nearby town of Buñol hosts La Tomatina. If Pamplona's Running of the Bulls is a storied tradition of man versus nature, then La Tomatina is an equally revered tradition of man versus ripe tomato. The giant food fight takes place in Buñol, when truckloads of over ripened tomatoes are brought in to the central square. Tourists come from far and wide, swelling the town to four times its usually population.

There are theories, but no one knows how the tradition was started. The original purpose of the festival was to honor the town's patron saint.

Perhaps this event seems overly juvenile, and perhaps it is. Yet it is a spectacle, and it is fun. Anyone who has been to Spain knows how seriously the Spanish take their fun. If La Tomatina does not fall anywhere within your definition of fun, there are alternatives. Nearby Valencia offers some quieter culture in the form of The City of Arts and Science and ancient buildings such as the Gargoyle-topped Llotja.

La Tomatina is usually held on the final Wednesday in August.