#TOMATINA-Genuine Tomatina Experience Spain

Spain has tourist attractions of all kinds and for all tastes: cities, monuments, towns, natural spaces, islands, museums... And in addition to a lot of variety, a lot of quantity. The places worth visiting in Spain are countless. It has it all: unparalleled gastronomy, an amazing contrast of landscapes, an enormous historical legacy...

The wealth of Spain is indisputable. Between a coastline of more than 8,000 kilometers that boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the spectacular and diverse inland landscapes, Spain has no shortage of natural options to escape to this summer. To this sample we must add the creativity of the civilizations that have passed through here and the legacy of current culture, a heritage that permeates the most beautiful towns in Spain and that has made this country one of the countries with the most Heritage Humanity treasures.

Barcelona is one of the most visited cities in Spain. Has it all! culture, viewpoints, sea, good weather, good gastronomy, that is why it is another of the cities that disputes the title of the most beautiful city in Spain. Gaudí's wonderful works, such as the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, La Pedrera or Casa Batlló, are some of the main monuments to see in Barcelona that turn it into an open-air museum. You can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the city from Montjuic or from Tibidabo, the oldest amusement park in Spain, stroll along its lively ramblas, eat at the Boquería Market, tour the Gothic Quarter to visit the Cathedral of Santa Cruz and Santa Eulalia and some squares full of charm, sunbathe on Barceloneta beach, watch a sunset from the bunkers of El Carmel, take a tour of the most touristy neighborhoods of Barcelona or enjoy its lively nightlife and its restaurants in Born.

 The Tomatina is celebrated on the last Wednesday of the month of August in the town of Buñol. This peculiar festival brings together a multitude of people every year willing to have a good time of laughter and fun with tomatoes. In this joyful pitched battle, the participants enjoy like children throwing tomatoes at everyone who crosses their path.

The day begins at 9 in the morning, in the town square, gaining strength with the buns that the City Council distributes. Little by little, the place is filling up with people. Before the fight, a huge stick covered in soap is raised, at the end of which a ham is placed. The most intrepid try to climb to the top to get the prize, amidst general rejoicing. Meanwhile, buckets of water are thrown from the balconies to the people who come to prepare before the battle.

At eleven o'clock the shot rings out signaling the start of the fight, and at the end of the street the first truck loaded with "ammunition" appears, announcing its entry with its horn. Those in the trailer begin to throw the first tomatoes. Finally, the vehicle stops and drops its load, that is when the crowd rushes to stock up on “bullets” and, in a few seconds, everything turns red. One after another, trucks with tomatoes arrive, until the second shot is fired, signaling the end of the battle.

 Madrid, cheerful and vibrant at all hours, is famous for being an open city with all kinds of people from anywhere in the world.

In addition to its famous museums, busy streets dotted with all kinds of shops, restaurants with world cuisine and unbeatable nightlife, Madrid will surprise you with its tranquil historic spots that charm everyone walking by. Here you'll find traditional family-run, century-old bars where friends meet up for a drink, every style of neighborhood and cultural centres that offer up an alternative type of tourism. Madrid's authenticity is hard to beat. It is welcoming and diverse. Madrid is, without a doubt, one of Europe’s most interesting cities.

Anyone in search of culture will find some of the most important museums in the world, such as the Prado, Reina Sofía or Thyssen. But we must not forget smaller options, full of charm, such as the Sorolla Museum or cultural centres like the Matadero or Conde Duque, which are continuously offering innovative exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, etc.

Walking around Madrid means coming across iconic spots such as the stunning Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor with 400 years of history, the buzzing Puerta del Sol, the famous Gran Vía full of shops, or the four tallest towers in Spain. Each neighbourhood offers a different experience: La Latina is ideal for tapas, Las Letras has the perfect combination of literature and fine dining… But Madrid also means relaxing in enormous green spaces such as the Retiro Park (which together with the Paseo del Prado boulevard have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List), and other lesser-known but equally charming parks like El Capricho.

When it's time to eat, Madrid has many different options, each more appealing than the last. On the one hand, traditional bars where you can discover exactly what castizo means and why tapas are so much fun. On the other hand, there are its cutting-edge restaurants like DiverXO and traditional markets that have been turned into new gourmet spaces, such as San Miguel, which has become a true gastronomic shrine. In Madrid, the time is always ripe to enjoy an animated, urban atmosphere. For example, the increasingly famous weekend brunches in enclosed glass terraces, courtyards, rooftops, etc.

Fashionistas will find all options: luxury shops on the Golden Mile, vintage establishments in areas such as Fuencarral, new designer markets like the Mercado de Motores, and craft workshops and bookshops over 100 years old. At dusk, some of the city’s viewpoints will surprise you with unique sunsets, at the Temple of Debod or the rooftop bar of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, for example. And at the end of the day... nightlife in Madrid is legendary with live music, all kinds of ambiences, music until the sun comes up...

Madrid has its own beauty. Madrid stimulates and inspires. Madrid. You have to experience it.