Torroella de Montgrí has a rich tradition of popular culture, one of which is giants, big-heads and other festive figures.
The first references to giants and a dragon date back to 1608, and the first pair of giants (a man and a woman) date back to 1758.
These figures have accompanied generations of Torroellenses in celebrations, parades and local festivals, becoming a symbol of local identity.
Montgrí. A history of giants
In 2019, the Museum of the Mediterranean and the Association of Friends of Giants and Bigheads of Torroella de Montgrí created the exhibition Montgrí. A history of giants, a project that gave rise to a permanent exhibition space called the Hall of Beasts and Giants.
The exhibition, the result of intensive and exhaustive research in various archives around the country, is curated by Xavier Cordomí, an expert in the world of festive imagery in Catalonia who has written a book dedicated to them.
The exhibition arose from the need to provide an exhaustive review of the history of the giants of Torroella de Montgrí from the first documented date to the present day. The exhibition is a look at the most important facts and events in which the giants have played a leading role, while at the same time recognising the valuable work of the people who make them.
Children visiting the exhibition will be able to try on a giant’s head.
Visitors can discover the most emblematic figures of local tradition up close:
- Gegants de Torroella de Montgrí: the Gegant and the Geganta, popularly known as El Porrer (because of the club he carries). They represent landowners from the municipality.
- Drac de Torroella: with historical references dating back to 1666, it is one of the oldest and most symbolic pieces of local imagery.
- Other festive figures: the cabezudos (big-heads) and the Àliga, which actively participate in popular festivals and parades.
There are also the Gegants de l’Estartit: Xiscu and Remei, representing a fisherman and a mender.
If you come to spend a few days in one of our apartments in l’Estartit, Sa Gavina, and you are passionate about the world of giants, you cannot miss this fantastic exhibition. A unique opportunity to discover the living and festive history of Torroella de Montgrí, where popular art and local identity go hand in hand.
