The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, has announced this Monday that the Puente del Rey de Madrid Río, on the banks of the Manzanares, has been the stage chosen for the Madrid mascletà that will thunder on February 18.
“It will be in a very special place, because it is on the Puente del Rey, in Madrid Río, where this mascletà will be celebrated, a place with the best views of the city of Madrid, with the entire facade of Las Vistillas, from the Cathedral of La Almudena, from the Royal Palace, from Plaza de España. This is where, definitively, the technicians say that the adequate and necessary safety conditions exist,” Almeida detailed.
After inaugurating some days to reflect on the future General Urban Planning Plan, the councilor emphasized that there are "few places in Madrid" with such a "privileged" environment and with "unique" views to "honor the mascletà and the City Council from Valencia to bring here the mascletà".
“I think we have found a place that lives up to the fireworks show that we will be able to enjoy on February 18 in the city of Madrid. I am also convinced that all of Madrid Río will be a hive of people willing to enjoy an unparalleled spectacle like the mascletà,” added Almeida, who said he did not know the cost of the show.
Almeida added that he believes that it is the Madrid City Council that assumes the cost: “Logically, because we are the ones who have requested it from the Valencia City Council, because we feel honored to be able to have a mascletà here, and because it is celebrated in this city. ”.
For her part, the mayor of València, María José Catalá, has stated that "a location has been sought with complete security" in which "all the distances that must be respected in a timely manner" could be guaranteed and that was located in a "important area" of the Spanish capital.
Catalá has highlighted that the amount of gunpowder that will be fired in Madrid "triples the kilos" that are burned "in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento" in Valencia during the official Fallas program. Likewise, he has pointed out that this 'mascletà' aims to promote "a fundamental economic activity in Valencia" such as "pyrotechnics."
