Valls celebrates Gaudí Year with castells display at the Sagrada Família

Valls brought its human towers to the Sagrada Família on Saturday, celebrating Gaudí Year with performances that connected the Catalan city to the architect and his temple.

The two castells groups from Valls first performed in front of the basilica’s Nativity façade, building a 4-of-8 tower and a pillar of five. They then continued inside the Sagrada Família, where a Mass was held.

The event was promoted by Valls Town Council with the cooperation of the Sagrada Família Construction Board. Through the display, the capital of the Alt Camp sought to reaffirm its longstanding relationship with Gaudí and the basilica.

That relationship includes Gaudí’s admiration for Lluís Bonifàs, a sculptor from Valls whom he regarded as a master and described himself as a disciple of. It also includes Cèsar Martinell, another figure from Valls who became a disciple of Gaudí and helped spread his ideas and work.

The performers also highlighted Gaudí’s admiration for castells. The architect valued the shared effort, balance, solidity, verticality and collective overcoming that the human towers represent. The institutional ceremony included theologian Armand Puig. After the Mass, organizers planned a floral offering and two pillars at Gaudí’s tomb.