Photo Gallery: La Crema

The climax of Las Fallas — La Cremà — traditionally took place in Valencia on March 19. On the final night of the festival, fallas — sculptures that had stood in the streets for just a few days — were burned to the ground across the city. Neighbourhoods were filled with smoke from giant bonfires, while firefighters stood by each monument.

As tradition dictates, children’s fallas were burned first, followed by the adult ones, and finally one of the most talked-about compositions of the year — the winner of the special section: the Convento Jerusalén–Matemático Marzal falla, featuring Trump seated on a throne with a rocket aimed at the crowd. This monument drew attention not only for its sharp political theme but also for its €260,000 budget.

By the end of the night, the 27-meter municipal sculpture of Charlie Chaplin, also built around an anti-war theme, was burned in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The pardoned bird of the year, which won the public vote, was traditionally saved from the flames and sent to a museum. It is also dedicated to the theme of war conflicts and, in particular, the fate of children in wartime.

Thousands of spectators came to watch the burning ceremony. Among them was a photographer from La Cotorra. Here’s how it looked.