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| The Grandma in Cal Figarot, Vilafranca |
Vilafranca del Penedès is the capital of the county of the Alt Penedès in Catalonia. It is situated in the Penedès Depression on the left bank of the Foix River, and on the main axis of communication from Barcelona to Tarragona and València.
The town was founded in the middle of the 12th century as a result of the decline of Olèrdola, which had been until then the main local centre. It was established as the seat of a vegueria in 1304. The Corts were held in the town in 1218 under King Jaume I, and again in 1358–59 and in 1367. King Pere III El Cerimoniós died while staying at the royal palace in Vilafranca in 1285.
The gothic Church of Santa Maria, the royal palace (Palau Reial) and the Palau Baltà, are situated in the historic town centre. The Palau Reial, from the thirteenth century houses the town museum, with collections of archeology, paleontology, ornithology, ceramics and sacred art, and a Museum dedicated to Wine, the Vinseum. Other notable monuments include the Church of Sant Joan, the Convent of Sant Francesc and a number of old merchants' houses such as the Palau del Fraret, Palau Macià, the Casal dels Gomà, the Casal del Marquès d'Alfarràs and Cal Figarot, Casa Via Raventós the headquarters of the Castellers de Vilafranca.
More information: Turisme Vilafranca
Vilafranca is a centre for the local wine industry, along with neighbouring Sant Sadurní d'Anoia. Other local industries include textiles, metallurgy, food processing and construction materials. It is also an important commercial centre.
On August, 30 Vilafranca celebrates Sant Fèlix, its Patron Saint Festival. This day is very important not only for Vilafranca but for all Castellers fans because the city invites the best Colles Castelleres (Human Towers Groups) to participate in the event. Castellers were inscribed in 2010 on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The local colla is Castellers de Vilafranca also known as Els Verds (The Greens) because of the colours of its shirt.
More information: Turisme Vilafranca
The Grandma has assisted to this wonderful event and has participated in it because it doesn't matter your size, your weigt or your force, everybody can participate in the construction of a castell or human tower.
During the travel to Vilafranca, The Grandma has finished her Intermediate Language Practice manual. The last lesson (Vocabulary 21) has talked about People and nothing better to do that participate in an international event like Sant Fèlix to be surrounded by the people of Vilafranca and its Castellers.
More information: People
The Castellers de Vilafranca is a cultural and sporting association whose main objective is to build castells also known as human towers. It has the status of a public-interest association. The group was founded in 1948 in response to the increased interest in human tower building in Vilafranca del Penedès, a Catalan tradition that has evolved since the 18th century Ball de Valencians, a dance from València.
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| The Grandma helps in the 3 de 10 castle |
Nowadays, the Castellers de Vilafranca have about 400 active human tower building members of all ages, with no discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, sex or social status.
They share the common goal of building human towers, democratic values, cooperation and teamwork, a constant desire to surpass themselves, and a will to maintain a lead over a select and competitive group of rival human tower associations. The group’s headquarters is Cal Figarot, Casa Via Raventós, a house located in downtown Vilafranca del Penedès and specially adapted for human tower building activity.
The group is one of the most important organizations in Vilafranca del Penedès and has represented Catalan culture abroad numerous times. The association has more than five hundred official supporters, and has the support of several public and private institutions.
In addition to hosting and participating in human tower exhibitions, it also organizes other cultural activities, such as small-scale concerts, a poetry contest, a massive bicycle event, a dominoes tournament, food events and a human tower school for kids.
The Castellers de Vilafranca’s efforts to preserve and promote popular Catalan culture have been recognized by the town of Vilafranca del Penedès, which awarded the group with the Medalla de la Vila (the town medal), and by the Generalitat de Catalunya (the Catalan Government) with the Creu de Sant Jordi (Cross of Saint George).
More information: The Telegraph
Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected.
Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.
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