Tomatina 2012

Are you planning to join the tomato festival, La Tomatina 2012 on Wednesday the 29th of August, in the region Valencia in Buñol? On this page you can find a lot of information about La Tomatina.

Buñol

Have you ever heard about Buñol? Probably not. This municipality is situated 40 kilometer from de region capital Valencia in the “Communidad de Valencia” (region Valencia). Buñol had around 10.000 inhabitants in the year 2009. In the surroundings of Buñol, you find mainly agriculture. You may not have heard of Buñol, but you probably have heard once of the yearly tomato fight in Spain, La Tomatina. Tomatina takes place in Buñol.

La Tomatina

On the last Wednesday of august, the well known Tomato festival, Tomatina, takes place in Spain, in the municipality Buñol.

In the year 1945 (on the last Wednesday of the month august) it all started with some adolescents that were throwing things to people with costumes. The year after, these adolescents started throwing with tomatoes and that’s how the yearly returning Tomatina festival started.

The climax of Tomatina is the tomato fight. During 1 hour, people can throw tomatoes to each other in the streets. If you would like to get an impression of this impressive festival in Buñol, see

Rules

The municipality made some rules for during the Tomatina festival in Buñol, namely:

1)    You cannot bring any bottles or other objects which can cause accidents;

2)    You are not allowed to destroy t-shirts or to throw with t-shirts;

3)    Before you want to throw a tomato to someone, you first have to squeeze the tomato. This rule exists in order to prevent that no one hurts or injures each other;

4)    If a truck with tomatoes wants to pass, you have to watch out;

5)    When you hear the second bang, everybody needs to stop with throwing tomatoes.

Recommendations of the municipality

The municipality gives as well some recommendations for if you want to join the Tomatina festival:

• Don’t wear slippers and don’t wear shoes with high heels, better wear for example sport shoes;
• Don’t wear clothes you would like to wear after the Tomatina festival;
• Goggels wouldn’t be a bad idea, given that the tomatoes can quite irritate when they are thrown into your eyes;
• You might want to bring some dry and clean clothes with you for when you return home/holiday destination;
• In case you don’t live in Buñol, the best option to find accommodation is in Valencia. There is a good connection between Valencia and Buñol. Accommodation can be quite hard to find in Buñol;
• If you would like to make some pictures, make sure you bring a water consistent fotocamera with you;
• Never climb onto a pole, a window or whatever to have a better overview, than you are becoming the target of more than 40.000 people;
• Enjoy!
• If you want to join the Tomatina 2012, than it is really recommendable to book an accommodation in time. The prices of hotels, apartments and hostels etc. rise fast and many people book an accommodation in Valencia, due to the good connection between Valencia and Buñol.

Transport

There are various options to reach Buñol from Valencia city. One possibility could be, to rent a car. Another option would be to take the train to Buñol.

You also could take the bus in Valencia, to Buñol. The bus leaves from “Estación del Norte”, the central trainstation in Valencia at 08.30 hour on Wednesday the 29th of august 2012. Then the bus will return to Valencia (from the football field in Buñol) at 15.00 hour. The price of this bus ticket is €30,-. The ticket for the bus, you need to book online. For more information click on Tomatina.

Tips

• If you want to join Tomatina 2012, than it is really recommendable to book an accommodation in time. The prices of hotels, apartments and hostels etc. rise fast and many people book an accommodation in Valencia, due to the good connection between Valencia and Buñol.
• Would you like to learn more about some typical Spanish traditions? You book our Flamenco dancing class or our Paella cooking class.