Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Clearing out for summer

For those of you who like fire and fireworks, the place to be from this Friday is Alicante. From June 20th, the hogueras or statues will be on display at various points in the city. 

The fiesta is more that just fire though; barracas will be erected in each neighbourhood where food, drink and entertainment will be laid on. There will be  many processions and events taking place often featuring the Bellea del Foc, the queen of fire, and her attendants.

Every day at 2.00 pm there will be a magnificent firework display called a mascletá. A different firework organiser  will construct the event each day using fireworks placed in one of the main plazas and on the tops of buildings nearby. Be warned though, these displays are pure noise; there are no pretty coloured rockets. If you go it is advisable to take earplugs.

On the night of June 24th the Cremà will take place. The evening will get underway at midnight with the lighting of a huge palm shaped firework from the top of the castle and then one by one in a strict order the hogueras will be  lit; the partying of course will go on throughout the night.

Whilst thousands of people will  flock to the Alicante to witness this annual event; if  you prefer to stay closer to home, Torrevieja and Guardamar have their own smaller verions of the hogueras.

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