Bunol, Valencia - The real Spain

Bunol- This is the real Spain, the landscape here is varied and rich. Along the eastern side of the district the terrain is gently sloping and undulating, with golden and reddish soils, alternating with market gardens and hilltops cloaked in vineyards. The more westerly parts present hillier terrain, with peaks rising higher and higher, with the scenery getting greener and more lush, the mountains are covered in wild rosemary and thyme.

Up high in the mountains, this is where you can see soaring eagles and sparrow hawks amongst other birds, nature lovers will love these areas for walking, cycling, rock-climbing, bird watching and fishing.

In addition to its natural attractions it also offers a great fiesta season in August. Most of the attractions being in the last 2 weeks of August, they have large open-air concerts, paella competitions, a fantastic street parade which finishes with a terrific fire works display, but the main event that Bunol is famous for is the Tomatina, the local tomato throwing festival. This fiesta started in a casual way in 1945 and has now become an enormous tomato battle involving the locals and some 30 thousand tourists. I have been to this event 3 times, and there is nothing that will prepare you for what you will experience over that hour, amazing, the locals will spray you with water from the roofs tops, to try to cool you down, and you are very grateful that they do!!!! It’s a whole lot of fun. (Not recommended for small children.)

For those visitors not into Tomato throwing, there is some excellent Spanish cuisine on offer, one restaurant goes back 300 years to the coaching inns days, Venta Pilar, this restaurant is mentioned in, The Late Dinner book, by Paul Richardson, for authentic traditional paella cooked over a wood fire, and still is today.

Bunol has a lot to offer the tourist that wants a taste of the real Spain, and the locals will make them very welcome.

Written by Rosalyn Tubby - Owner of Property 67887 in Bunol, Spain