Joan Faus Vitoria, the mayor of Ador in the province of Valencia, has formally designated the hours between 2pm and 5pm as a time for locals to take their afternoon siestas².

 

During the official nap time - the first of its kind to be introduced in Spain - parents have been told that children must be kept indoors and residents and tourists are instructed not to make unnecessary noise.

 

Mr Vitoria said the plan was introduced as a way for farm employees and manual laborers³ to take a break from work at a point in the day when temperatures reach their peak.

 

His edict states that the three-hour pause be respected by employers.

 

As well as allowing residents to return to their properties and spend a few hours catching⁴ up on sleep, the siesta¹ time is also intended to bring quiet to municipality of Ador.

 

A key rule is that locals who choose not to spend their time sleeping are not allowed to use the siesta period to carry out work that makes any noise. Mechanics, for example, wouldn't be allowed to test cars engines in case in wakes neighbors.

 

Meanwhile parents have also been asked to ensure their children play indoors during the three-hour period to avoid noise travelling into open windows.

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