Tarragona, Ciutat de Castells - Ciudad de / Ville de / City of Castells
The seconds lasted forever, he was at his limit. He couldn’t see anything, surrounded by dozens of tense bodies, worrying and sweating like him. The sound of flageolets and the shouts from the team leader, he knew he had to hold on. Heat, a lot of heat. That corpulent body, with a few winter layers on top, bravely endured. It was his brain that kept him going. Sure. On top of his shoulders the nine floor tower was being built. He didn’t want to even think about the weight on top of him. If it hadn’t been for the two girls acting like crutches under his arms he would have folded like crumpled paper...
The castles —the human tower constructions— originated in Tarragona and in Penedès and their origin comes from Valencian dances. Tarragona has four groups and the city lives and breathes the tower building spirit and ambience like never before. To build towers everyone is needed and in the right place, from the oldest to the youngest. If one is missing, it doesn’t get built, without bravery, neither.
(26 June-4 September 2024)
You can see human towers being built on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. (except 14 August) in front of the Tarragona Cathedral.
DATE | PLACE | COLLA CASTELLERA (HUMAN TOWER GROUP) |
26/06 | pla de la Seu | |
03/07 | pla de la Seu | |
10/07 | plaça Santiago Rusiñol (plaça de les Cols) | |
17/07 | pla de la Seu | |
24/07 | pla de la Seu | |
31/07 | pla de la Seu | |
07/08 | pla de la Seu | |
21/08 | pla de la Seu | |
28/08 | plaça Santiago Rusiñol (plaça de les Cols) | |
04/09 | pla de la Seu |
(24 June-24 September 2024))
Santa Tecla, Sant Magí, Sant Joan… The calendar is filled with human tower events featuring the city’s four colles (Xiquets de Tarragona, Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona, Xiquets del Serrallo and Castellers de Sant Pere i Sant Pau), with some of the best teams from the rest of the country also invited.
Explore the unique tradition of human castles with real castellers!
Discover the fascinating tradition of castells for yourself firsthand. Contact us and book a group theory class (approx. 30 minutes) and/or a group practical workshop and delve into the incredible world of castellers.
Learn the meaning of this tradition with over 200 years of history. Discover how the gravity-defying human towers are made, with structures that reach up to 10 stories from base to top. You'll learn the importance of unity and teamwork, which have earned the castellers international admiration and recognition.
Classes with or without a practical workshop are held in the same facilities where the castells are designed, giving you the chance to learn about this unique tradition in an authentic, enriching environment.
Take part in an unforgettable experience that you can only have in Tarragona!
- Format: theory class + video projection
- Duration: approximately 30 minutes
- Booking: subject to demand and prior group booking (minimum 30 people)
- Contact: for further information, write to tallerscastells@gmail.com
- Languages: Catalan, Spanish and English
- Location: Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona headquarters (Cós del Bou 23)
Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!
"Colles castelleres" (human tower groups)
Would you like to watch and experience the rehearsals?
Tarragona Human Tower Building Competition
The biggest human tower Building event in the world (5 and 6 October)