Recognized since 2010 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the "castells" are one of the most important emblems of Catalan culture. Its origin goes back to the 18th century in Camp de Tarragona, although you can currently find colles castelleres (teams that made up the castells) all over the territory. There are more than a hundred of them and, throughout the season, dozens of festivals are held every weekend throughout Catalonia. It is estimated that around 10,000 castles can be built each year. Attending a casteller day is one of the most incredible experiences you can have in Catalonia. Many towns and cities celebrate these events between spring and autumn. They are often linked to the major festivals of each locality, and that is why they are held in an atmosphere of celebration and joy, which you can also enjoy. It is often said that to build castles you need strength, balance, courage and sanity. But the casteller's philosophy goes much further, and it shows values that as a spectator you can also experience on the spot. Effort, friendship, solidarity, self-improvement, unity… all this and much more is transmitted by the different teams of castells. They are like big families made up of young and old who work for a common goal. In a day where castells are being celebrated, you will experience moments of great emotion, from the sepulchral silence of the squares where hundreds of people gather when the castle is erected to the joy shared in an explosion of joy when the human towers are being dismantled. All together, accompanied by the sound of gralles and timpani. From the square you will be able to experience this show in person, a few meters from the human castles. You can even help with the pinya (the base of the power) and do your bit. Because one of the values of the Casteller world is that it is open to everyone. In Catalonia, this unique tradition is conceived as a source of pride, one of its identity traits, and one that must be shared to the rest of the world. The members of the teams spend many hours rehearsing and preparing the special days, which are usually held on weekends and holidays. One of the identity traits of the casteller is the clothing, with white trousers, sash, scarf and shirt, which can be of different colors depending on the team. Most groups tend to build buildings of seven or eight floors, but the most prominent ones build human towers of nine and ten. Each day, each group builds three castles and ends with a round of pillars. Some cities or towns have more than one team casteller. In Barcelona, for example, there are eight, and in Tarragona, four. In the latter city, there are some of the most important teams, such as the Jove or the Xiquets de Tarragona, together with the Vella and Joves dels Xiquets de Valls teams, the Castellers de Vilafranca and the Minyons de Terrassa. Therefore, if you want to see the most spectacular constructions, you cannot miss the performances of any of these groups. Similarly, if you want to enjoy the best days, there are certain dates that you must mark in your calendar. It is the case of Sant Joan in Valls, in the month of June; the Snow Day in Vilanova, in July; Sant Félix in Vilafranca, in August; Santa Tecla in Tarragona, in September; or Santa Úrsula in Valls, in October. But the great event in the castellar world is the competition held every two years in Tarragona. During three days, almost fifty teams meet to win the three categories of the competition. The twelve best teams meet on the first Sunday of October in the old bullring in a unique show, full of rivalry, excitement and joy that perfectly sums up the Casteller event. All this makes castells one of the most exciting traditions in Catalonia.