Where does Los castells festival take place?
Starting off as just one of many cultural activities at village fiestas, building castells has become a competitive sport with its own championship. Since 1952 it has been held every two years in October at Tarragona’s Tàrraco Arena Plaça. Performance in the Tarragona stadium.
Where and when did the tradition of the castells begin?
Castells were first documented as a cultural form in 1801. They appeared in Tarragona, a rural and religious province of Catalonia. With nineteenth century industrialization, they became a traditional practice, central to popular nationalist celebrations.
Where are the castells de Tarragona?
Catalonia
There are currently between 60 and 70 castell teams (colles) in Catalonia, some of which appear at large, bi-annual competitions in Tarragona, Spain. The teams are awarded points based on how high they can build their towers without falling.
What is the purpose of the castells?
A castell (Catalan pronunciation: [kəsˈteʎ]) is a human tower built traditionally at festivals in Catalonia, the Balearic islands and the Valencian Community. At these festivals, several colles castelleres (teams that build towers) attempt to build and dismantle a tower’s structure.
What is castells festival?
The “castells” (human castles) have been awarded the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity designation. They are a very popular and spectacular event, typical of Catalan culture, in which impressive human towers that are six to ten storeys high rise up and seem to touch the sky.
How did the castells start?
Origins of building castells The castells have their origins in a traditional folklore dance in the city of Valls. The steps of the dance were accompanied with the flute, as it is still played today during the tower building. At the end of the dance a small human tower was built.
Where can you see castells?
Although based on the earlier traditional Muixeranga of Algemesí in Valencia, the tradition of castells within Catalonia originated in the Ball dels Valencians (Valencian Dance) in Valls, near the city of Tarragona, first documented in 1712.
How many parts do the castells have?
The castells are divided into three parts: The pinya (bulk): bottom of the tower. Their role is to break any falls that might happen and they bear all of the weight of the castell. The tronc (trunk): vertical structure linking the base and the top of the tower.
Where are the castells?
The Catalan tradition of building human towers or castells (the Catalan word for ‘castle’) originated in Valls, near the city of Tarragona in Catalonia, an autonomous community of Spain with its own distinct language and culture.