Museu Faller de València — Attraction in Valencia

After every Falles (Fallas) festival, all the ninots (the wooden constructions you see in the pictures) are burned in the 'la cremà' fire, except for one "adult" and one "baby" ninot that are "pardoned". The museum has kept all the pardoned adult ninot since 1934, and since the first exposition of the baby ninots, they have also kept all the pardoned baby ninots. You can easily spend up to an hour getting lost in the two story tall museum, serving as a window into the history - "the spirit (geist)" if you will - of Valencia, quite literally. Yet, if you have been to any Fallas in person, you will have noticed a lot of political satire, a lot of radical and candid expressions that will never get past the voting ground (context: the pardon is decided by the popular vote). It makes you wonder, especially during the Franco era, what were the ninots like that didn't survive the la cremà? The entrance is two euros, with discounts for students etc. No...

What a fantastic little museum! Housed in an mundane building near the tourist mecca of Valencia (Arts Science building), the exhibits are truly unique, fun, interesting, humorous even. The spectacular detail these artists incorporated into their work (toes that don't fit shoes, spilled paint from a cat foot that forms word "miao"). The longer you look, the more interesting it gets; not many things are like that. The faces, expressions, have it the complete suite of human expressions, greed, evil, lascivity, anger, laziness, stupidity, resent. The museum also has unique history of the Fallas festival every March since 1921. They burn the exhibits after...? What? The ones we see are "pardoned"? Hint of paganism, pyrophoria, parades, costumes. Wonderfully strange.

And free on sunday (10am-2pm). WCs upstairs are excellent shape. Folks at the door welcoming. Crowds not so bad (a few guided tours to evade). Bus stop right...

Wonderful museum in a historic building, for only the cost of a cup of coffee! €2 Staff were friendly and helpful, guide available in different languages. Audio guide also available, not needed if English or Spanish (Catalan or Valenciano) speaking as detailed information is available at each exhibit. The Ninots are beautiful and there is an interesting story with each one, the poster art is very impressive too. We spent about 1 hour here and loved it. We are familiar with the Fallas, but it gave us a better understanding of the history of Fallas, and the importance to the Valencian community, also the humour and political satire is clear. If you are not familiar with Fallas, it is still a great place to visit, make sure you watch the video at the end, also available in English. One of my favourite museums...