This Thursday, September 11, the National Day of Catalonia will not be celebrated only within the region: the center of Madrid will also become a space of vindication of Catalan culture by the hand of the Colla Castellera de Madrid, which will star in a tradition as deep-rooted as that of the castells.
These impressive human towers will rise into the sky of Madrid on Thursday at 8 pm at number 15 of Paseo de Recoletos thanks to about 50 castellers who are expected to participate in the event, as we are told from the colla de los “gatos”.
Previously to the castells, from 19:15h the public will be able to enjoy the sardanes of the Agrupació Sardanista del Cercle Català de Madrid, an organization that has been bringing Catalan culture to Madrid for more than half a century and to which also belongs the colla madrileña.
A tradition recognized by Unesco
The castells are a tradition with more than 300 years of history behind them that, not in vain, has been recognized by Unesco: it was declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 16, 2010.
Throughout the month of September, the Colla Castellera de Madrid has planned more performances and rehearsals (open to the public) in which the values that define the casteller world are materialized: Força, Equilibri, Valor i Seny (Strength, Balance, Courage and Prudence or Common Sense).
When are the castells open essays?
Rehearsals take place two days a week at their premises in Vallecas (Calle Teniente Muñoz Díaz, 21), which can be easily reached by metro line 1 to Portazgo station.
They usually last 2 hours and to participate “no special preparation or minimum requirement is necessary”, they point out. The schedules are as follows:
- Wednesday at 19h: general rehearsal.
- Friday: at 18:30h gralles and at 19:30h general rehearsal.