The conference dinner will take place on Wednesday 21st September at 20:00 at the H10 Imperial Tarraco . If you have signed up for the dinner, please let us know if you have any food intolerances, allergies, etc. filling the following form, before September 11th. (no dress code required)

 

The private guided tour: "Roman Tarraco" on Friday, the 23rd, from 10.00 to 12.00 (approx.) around the old Roman city where the most important monuments will be visited and explained. The tour will end right on time to allow you to see one of the most unique moments of Tarragona's festivities: Els Castells, the Human Towers (13.00, at plaça de la Font). The places for this tour are limited. If you are interested in joining the tour, please fill in this form, before September 11th.

During the days of the Conference, Santa Tecla festivities will be celebrated:

The Santa Tecla festivities are the most important popular celebration of the year in Tarragona. Its origin dates back to the arrival to the town of the relic of the Saint's arm, an Anatolian martyr from the early days of Christianity, in 1321. From then until today, Thecla has focused a good part of the expression of the local sense of community, particularly with the celebration of the local patronal festival under its invocation on September 23th. Provided that the restrictions imposed with occasion of Covid-19 have prevented last year to celebrate appropriately the 700th anniversary of the arrival of the relics of the saint, this September is foreseen to commemorate the event, which implies that this year the festivities will be to some extent special.

The program of events has evolved historically and, at the present time, includes ten days of celebrations. Even so, the traditional ritual sequence, where the manifestations of popular culture that have been evolving since the Middle Ages are concentrated, takes place from the 20th to the 24th of September. We indicate now the most significant acts of the traditional part of the festivities, with some advice to follow them.

El Retaule de Santa Tecla (September 20th, 22,30h, in the Cathedral). It is a danced representation of the story of Santa Tecla as it appears represented in the altarpiece of the Cathedral. Although the choreography designed by Jaume Guasch premiered in 1991, it is inspired by the ‘moixigangues’, a traditional dance from the Tarragona area that usually represents religious scenes based on figures constructed by people. It is one of the most appropriate moments to connect with the essence of the celebration. Attendance is free, but you must make a reservation in advance at entrades.tarragona.cat.

L’Arrencada dels Gegants (September 21th, 19,00h, at plaça de la Font). After a short speech by a prominent figure from the Town Hall balcony, the city’s ‘Gegants’ and ‘Nanos’, anthropomorphic figures carried by people, go out in a parade. Mostly an act popular among children, it is an appropriate moment to breathe in the street atmosphere of the festivities.

La Baixada de l’Àliga (September 22th, 0,00h, from pla de la Seu). It is a massive event where people have the opportunity to carry the various allegorical figures taking part in the Santa Tecla procession. These figures represent real or mythological animals, with a symbolic function, such as the eagle, the lion or dragon. It is a massive event and caution is advised. Nevertheless, it is one of the most intense moments of the festivities. If you become familiar with the ritual, you can try to take a more active role in it.

La Cercavila (September 22th, 19,00h, from plaça de la Font). It is an ideal occasion to see the ensemble of dances and other folkloric elements forming part of the ethnographic heritage of Tarragona’s festivities. The elements of fire, which use pyrotechnics, lead the parade and are perhaps the most spectacular element. To see it with some comfort, we recommend the steps of the Cathedral (although they tend to be very crowded and it is difficult to find a place), plaça del Fòrum or plaça del Rei. After watching the parade, you can try to have dinner in one of the many restaurants and bars in the old part of the city. Then you can explore one of the concerts or dances that last throughout the night.

L’Anada a Ofici (September 23th, 9,15h, from plaça de la Font). The folkloric elements seen the day before in the ‘Cercavila’ move from plaça de la Font to the pla de la Seu, accompanying the city council to the Cathedral, where they traditionally attended the religious service of Santa. It is the ideal occasion to see them, since, contrary to the previous day's ‘Cercavila’, the public is not very numerous. It is recommended to do it from the steps of the Cathedral.

Els Castells (September 23th, 13,00h, at plaça de la Font). The human towers are a traditional cultural manifestation of the Tarragona area that has spread to the whole of Catalonia, acquiring a significant symbolic role as representation of Catalan national identity. This traditional performance in the context of the Santa Tecla festivities is a splendid occasion to see these spectacular constructions and enjoy the atmosphere that surrounds them.

L’Entrada del Braç (September 23th, 21,00h, approx., at pla de la Seu). After the procession of the saint's relic through the streets of the old town, it returns to the Cathedral, where its entrance is greeted with fireworks and a joint performance of all the folkloric elements taking part in the festivities. It is recommended to take a place at pla de la Seu a little earlier. You can also take the opportunity to visit the Cathedral, which at that time is open to the public, particularly the chapel of the saint.

Els Pilars Caminant (September 24th, 14,00h, approx., at plaça de les Cols). A new human towers performance precedes one of the most unique moments of Tarragona's festivities. The four local groups set up a structure of four people each. These structures, after going up and down the steps of the Cathedral, move to the Town Hall. It is one of the most exciting events of the festivities. You can observe the construction while walking at any point of the route, but the climbing up of the steps of the Cathedral and the arrival at the Town Hall are surely the best moments.

Check this link for other information.