Museo Fallero

This morning, we visited the bizarre and slightly creepy Museo Fallero. Each day of our visit to Valencia at 2pm a massive, thunderous firework display takes place. This is part of Las Fallas de San José, a festival which runs from 1 to 10 March each year. It culminates on 16 March when c.350 "fallas" appear - sculptures of polystyrene, papiermàché and wood - are built by local neighbourhoods. They satirise celebrities, current affairs and local customs. Valencians judge the individual figures - "ninots" - and prizes are awarded for the best.

On 19 March, after midnight, each falla goes up in flames - except the best one, spared by popular vote, which is placed in the Museo Fallero.