The Castellers Monument

In front of you is Barcelona’s famous wire sculpture. Although it may seem like a piece of abstract art, and may not immediately capture everyone’s interest, it’s actually a tribute to the Castellers. Castells—or “castles” in English—are human towers made up of multiple floors of people, a tradition deeply rooted in Catalan culture. Its origins are uncertain, but it’s said to have come from old Valencian dances that ended with a small human tower. Over time, the simple finale became its own discipline, with the towers growing ever taller. These days the results are spectacular, with towers reaching six to ten levels high. It’s always a child, wearing a helmet, at the top of the pyramid. The castell is officially complete when the child raises an arm into the sky, and fully successful once everyone has returned to the ground. Participants train for months to properly build a castell. The tower has three main parts. At the base is the pinya,—Catalan for “pine cone”—forming the foundation and supporting the structure’s weight. It also helps soften any falls. Next up is the tronc, or “trunk”, the spine connecting the base to the top. Finally, there’s the pom de dalt—literally “the apple on top”—formed by the youngest, lightest, and most agile participant. This sculpture was created in 2012 by Antoni Lena, honouring these fearless acrobats and celebrating teamwork, trust, solidarity, and perseverance. You may see one of these incredible towers during traditional Catalan celebrations on September 11th or 24th, or sometimes on Sunday afternoons, between June and October, in Sant Jaume Square—our next destination.