Human Towers Draw Crowds Amid Heat
At 11:30 AM, half an hour before the event began, Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia was already packed. Locals, castells enthusiasts and tourists filled the square, eager to witness one of the Festa Major’s key events. The performance featured two groups: Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia and Xiquets de Reus. Over 90 minutes, they built towering human structures that drew intense focus from the crowd. Each ascent was met with applause, especially when the enxaneta, the child climber, reached the top.
Celebrating Tradition in High Temperatures
Despite strong sun and high temperatures, the atmosphere remained lively. Attendees used handheld fans, hats and portable coolers to stay comfortable. The blue shirts of the Gràcia group and the hazelnut-coloured shirts of the Reus team added vibrant contrast to the scene. Tourists made up a significant portion of the audience, many watching castells for the first time. Mobile phones were held high to capture footage, and screens were raised within the crowd for better viewing.
The plaza became a meeting place for those familiar with the tradition and those discovering it for the first time.
Plaça de la Vila became a central hub during the festival morning. Nearby streets saw reduced foot traffic as people converged on the square. Some passers-by stopped briefly; others stayed for the full performance. According to reporting by El Periódico Barcelona and RTVE Catalunya, the casteller event is a highlight of the week-long Festa Major, which includes decorated streets, music and community gatherings. The festivities run annually around mid-August, with this year’s main casteller day taking place on Sunday 17 August.
Reported by elperiodico.com, Daniela Cabeza, María Bosch, beteve.cat, revistacastells.cat, elMonCasteller.cat, independent.cat, cvg.cat, El Periódico Barcelona.
