Spot the faces of famous artists and musicians in this soaring sculpture dedicated to the traditional sport of building human towers.
The Monumento a los Castellers is a striking monument to the local tradition of castells (castles), which involves groups of people standing on one another’s shoulders to create a tower. Unveiled in the Rambla Nova in 1999, the statue heralds the amazing feat of strength and trust that is required to construct the formations. Admire the intricate detail of the bronze sculpture, which features 219 characters in a huddle supporting a teetering tower of figures.
Walk around the Rambla Nova and check out the monument from afar. The sculpture stands on the site where 14 groups of castellers used to perform. Created by the Catalan artist Francesc Anglès, the almost life-size creation demonstrates how this intriguing cultural custom is performed. The tradition goes back at least 200 years in Terragona and Penedès and today it is designated an Intangible Cultural Heritage tradition by UNESCO.
You’ll see the crowded jumble of characters pushing toward the center, forming a supportive base. Among these figures, you might spot the faces of Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudí, Joan Miró and Pau Casals. Above them stand five tiers of castellers, each level of characters standing with their arms interlinked. At the tower’s apex, two characters stand face-to-face and a small child sits above them. The tower reaches a total height of 36 feet (11 meters) and weighs approximately 12 tons (11 tonnes). Check out the cast of characters that stand outside of the castell itself. You’ll see three musicians, including a drummer, and the “cap de colla” who shouts instructions to the team.
The Monumento a los Castellers is located in Rambla Nova in central Tarragona. It is a 15-minute walk northwest from the city’s major railway station. Add the monument to your list of destinations on a walking tour of the city. It is free to visit at any time. If you’d like to watch real castellers competing, check out the festivals of Sant Joan and Santa Tecla, or go to Placa de la Font.
