world heritage

Photography exhibition on Catalan human towers commemorates their first anniversary as part of World Cultural Heritage

November 17, 2011 08:12 PM | CNA / Sara Gómez

‘Castells’ or the traditional human towers originally from Southern Catalonia and generally built during town festivals were included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO last year. An exhibition at the Palau Robert in Barcelona will celebrate this first anniversary. It reflects on the tradition’s cultural and social value, and its role as one of Catalonia’s best known symbols.

Excavations made in Tarragona show that the Temple of Augustus is more than 43 meters in length

August 11, 2011 10:25 PM | CNA

Modern day Tarragona was once one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, Tarraco. The ruins are one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. Tarragona’s Roman Temple of Augustus, which can be found beneath the foundation of the Gothic Cathedral, is currently being studied. The second archaeological excavation concludes with the discovery of several medieval coins, medals and a twelfth-century lamp.

Catalan human castles declared UNESCO element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

November 16, 2010 10:39 PM | CNA / Margalida Armengual / Sarah Garrahan

The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage declared the Catalan tradition of human castle building, or ‘castells’, as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition was also awarded to the Mallorcan ‘Sibil·la’ chant, the traditional dance Flamenco and the Mediterranean Diet.