Diada Històrica Castellera—La Mercè 2024

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Photo by Cesc Maymó courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

One of Catalunya's most famous traditions is that of the castells (castles), human towers that are lifted by building different levels of people until reaching heights of up to ten stories. There is no mechanical help, and tens and even hundreds of people can take part in it. The castellers are the people who carry out this activity, which is over 200 years old.

Acknowledged as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, its origin is believed to be around the area of Tarragona; it was first documented in Valls in 1712 and spread to other towns over the course of the 18th century. It is only in the last 50 years or so that the practice has spread throughout Catalunya.

Castells are one of the most genuine and unique cultural expressions in Europe. Under the traditional slogan of "strength, balance, bravery and sense," castells are an outstanding calling card for Catalunya in the world. Seeing a casteller exhibition is a thrilling experience; it showcases individual and group effort, solidarity and the integration of people of all ages, conditions and abilities within a single project.

On the occasion of La Mercè, the city of Barcelona adopted the human tower-building tradition from the southern counties and made it an important part of the festival. The Castellers de Barcelona host the diada històrica castellera (Historical Human Tower-Building Day), inviting the most prominent casteller groups to build their best towers. This year they will perform alongside Minyons de Terrassa, a leading group among the more than 60 that currently exist, and the Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls, which boasts 200 years of successes, effort, fun and shared lives.

The diada històrica castellera is a world-class display, in addition to being a tribute to a tradition and a way of life, a perennially integrative, open culture.

What to Do for La Mercè

Celebrated in the days surrounding September 24th, the La Mercè festival program is packed with things to do and see. From parades and exhibits filled with gegants (giants), capgrossos (bigheads) and fire-breathing beasts to giant castells (human towers), traditional dances, correfocs (fire runs), drone light shows, fireworks displays and free concerts, you're sure to find something to delight and amaze you.

But if all the festivities of La Mercè get to be a bit too much, why not take a culture break? Many of the city’s museums observe the holiday with a jornada de portes obertes (open doors). To make the most of your time, take a look at our interactive map with all the locations that are throwing open their doors for free: Map of Barcelona Museums with Free Entry for La Mercè.

See our Guide to La Mercè for a list of the festival's events and discover the story behind one of the biggest celebrations on Barcelona's calendar and the many traditions that make this beloved Catalan holiday so special.

For more events during the Festes de la Mercè check our online events calendar.