Fireworks castle of l'Olla in Altea: A ritual of light and gunpowder.

Altea's Castell de la l´Olla has been a tradition for over twenty years; a festival of light and gunpowder, which is unique in being the only festival in the world with a firework display at sea, with the pyrotechnics launched from 8 platforms each weighing 15 tonnes.

Abahana Villas - Fireworks of l'Olla in Altea.

The night before the Festival of San Lorenzo (St Lawrence) on 11 August sees a musical pyrotechnical event, keenly anticipated by both residents and tourists alike. Nobody wants to miss the huge firework display which lights up Altea's l'Olla bay. Organised by the Castell de l'Olla brotherhood, this impressive spectacle draws over 50,000 people to the shores of the Mediterranean to watch this fusion of light, music and gunpowder. In addition to the main programme of events, the organisers also run a series of artistic activities, including drama and dance performances as well as exhibitions.

A spectacle requiring over two thousand kilos of gunpowder, Altea's Castell de l'Olla lights up the summer nights, including fireworks at sea which illuminate the sky with different shapes; palm trees, bouquets of flowers and amazing sound effects. Last year's event was directed by pyro-technician Carlos Caballer, who added a touch of fantasy and splendour to the festival.

In recent years the Castell de l'Olla has begun to add new touches as a way of attracting more visitors. One of these is for boats in Altea bay to go out to admire this event, an unmissable date in the country's calendar of firework displays.

This traditional event's importance has been recognised with a distinction in the Tourism Merit awards in the gold category in 1999, awarded by the Patronato Provincial de Turismo de la Costa Blanca (Costa Blanca Tourist Board). A real spectacle of light and colour, don't miss it!