[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Secci\u00f3n” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Every September, <\/span>Catalonia <\/span><\/b>dresses up to commemorate its <\/span>National Day <\/span><\/b>(Diada Nacional), a date marked by <\/span>historical memory<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>cultural vindication<\/span><\/b> and the shared pride of its\u00a0people. It is a day when <\/span>tradition<\/span><\/b>, emotion and symbolism intertwine, bringing together thousands of people in different parts of the region. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From the grand avenues of <\/span>Barcelona <\/span><\/b>to the most intimate squares of towns such as <\/span>Tarragona<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Salou<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Cambrils <\/span><\/b>and<\/span> Vila-seca<\/span><\/b>, the day is lived with intensity and manifests itself in many ways. Institutional events, <\/span>tributes<\/span><\/b>, floral offerings, <\/span>cultural activities<\/span><\/b> and popular events shape a celebration that transcends the merely historical to become a reflection of collective identity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to learn more about this festivitiy, we recommend <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s low-cost and sustainable <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a> to easily reach <\/span>Barcelona<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>Costa Dorada<\/span><\/b> from<\/span> Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and the Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|60px|30px|60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n 11 September 1714<\/span><\/b>\u00a0was etched into the history of Catalonia\u00a0with the fall of <\/span>Barcelona <\/span><\/b>to the Bourbon troops of Philip V during the <\/span>War of Spanish Succession<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>After more than a year of siege, the city succumbed, ending the resistance of the Catalan institutions and marking the end of a political system that had allowed a high degree of self-government. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the 18th century and much of the 19th century, the memory of that <\/span>11th of September<\/span><\/b> remained in the popular and cultural sphere, especially in Barcelona. <\/span><\/p>\n Offerings <\/span><\/b>in honour of the fallen defenders became a discreet but persistent tradition, linked above all to the <\/span>Fossar de les Moreres<\/span><\/a>, the place where many resistance fighters were buried. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was at the end of the 19th century, in a context of rising political and cultural Catalanism, that 11 September became established as a day of collective commemoration. In 1886, a large <\/span>floral offering<\/span><\/b> was organised for the first time at the monument to <\/span>Rafael Casanova<\/span><\/b>, head of the Barcelona government during the siege. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Diada-de-Cataluna-Barcelona-y-Costa-Dorada-Shuttle2Sun-1.png” alt=”Diada of Catalonia in Barcelona and Costa Dorada” title_text=”Diada of Catalonia in Barcelona and Costa Dorada” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Throughout the 20th century, the Diada experienced periods of prohibition and clandestinity, especially during the Franco dictatorship, when public demonstrations were harshly repressed. However, popular sentiment kept the commemoration alive. After the restoration of democracy in 1980, the <\/span>Parliament of Catalonia<\/span><\/b> officially declared 11 September as the <\/span>Diada Nacional of Catalonia<\/span><\/b>, recognising it as a public holiday and a symbol of collective identity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Discover all the events scheduled for Diada Nacional of Catalonia and enjoy them to the fullest, travelling with the low-cost and sustainable <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a> offered by <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a> from <\/span>Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In <\/span>Barcelona<\/span><\/b>, the <\/span>Diada <\/span><\/b>offers a range of cultural activities that go beyond institutional events. The day offers a rich programme that includes<\/span> open-air concerts<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>traditional dance<\/span><\/b> performances and\u00a0open days at landmark institutions\u00a0such as the <\/span>Museum of the History of Catalonia<\/span><\/b>. Inside the museum, the permanent <\/span>exhibition<\/span><\/a> \u2018La mem\u00f2ria d’un pa\u00eds\u2019<\/span><\/b> (The Memory of a Nation) offers an interactive journey through the history of Catalonia \u2014from prehistory to the present day\u2014 in audiovisual form.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Diada-de-Cataluna-Barcelona-y-Costa-Dorada-Shuttle2Sun-2.png” alt=”Transfer Barcelona Tarragona Salou Cambrils Vila-seca” title_text=”Transfer Barcelona Tarragona Salou Cambrils Vila-seca” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n In <\/span>Tarragona<\/span><\/b>, the Diada of Catalonia takes on a unique dimension thanks to the city’s status as a <\/span>\u2018Ciutat de Castells\u2019<\/span><\/b> (City of Human Towers). The main event, the <\/span>Diada Castellera de la Diada Nacional de Catalunya<\/span><\/b>, is held every <\/span>11th of September <\/span><\/b>in the iconic <\/span>Pla de la Seu<\/span><\/b>, in front of the cathedral, with the participation of the city’s four <\/span>main human tower groups<\/span><\/b> \u2014X<\/span>iquets de Tarragona<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Colla Jove Xiquets de Tarragona<\/span><\/b>,<\/span> Xiquets del Serrallo <\/span><\/b>and<\/span> Colla Castellera Sant Pere i Sant Pau<\/span><\/b>\u2014 delivering a cultural spectacle steeped in tradition and emotion. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On <\/span>Costa Dorada<\/span><\/b>, the Diada of Catalonia is also celebrated with a strong emphasis on popular traditions and citizen participation. Towns such as <\/span>Salou<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Cambrils <\/span><\/b>and <\/span>Vila-seca<\/span><\/b> design a diverse programme each year that combines institutional events with cultural manifestations deeply rooted in Catalan identity. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In <\/span>Salou<\/span><\/b>, the day will feature a floral offering at the monument to <\/span>Rafael Casanova<\/span><\/b>, a solemn gesture that has become a symbol of historical remembrance. Music and rhythm will then take centre stage in the celebration, with a <\/span>performance by the<\/span><\/b> Ball de Bastons de Salou<\/span><\/b> and traditional <\/span>sardanes <\/span><\/b>in the <\/span>Pla\u00e7a del Carrilet<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”181.8px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Cambrils <\/span><\/b>presents a varied programme that combines music, institutional ceremonies and culture. The day before, on 10<\/span>th<\/span> of September, the <\/span>Parc del Pinaret<\/span><\/a> will become the epicentre of the festivities with the<\/span> Diada Concert<\/span><\/b>, featuring groups such as <\/span>Pepet i Marieta<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Buhos <\/span><\/b>and <\/span>Fescat Goes Punk<\/span><\/b>, as well as entertainment by DJ Dimuca. The following day, the <\/span>Parc del Pescador <\/span><\/b>will host the <\/span>institutional event of the Diada Nacional of Catalonia<\/span><\/b>, with the participation of the <\/span>Verge del Cam\u00ed Choir <\/span><\/b>and the <\/span>Colla Castellera Xiquets de Cambrils<\/span><\/b>, as well as the traditional <\/span>floral offering<\/span><\/b> to the monolith. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, <\/span>Vila-seca<\/span><\/b>\u00a0also joins in with cultural and commemorative events\u00a0in the <\/span>Discover the Origins of the Diada of Catalonia \u00a0<\/h2>\n
The War of Succession and the Fall of Barcelona \u00a0<\/h3>\n
The Memory and the First Commemorations \u00a0<\/h3>\n
From Prohibition to Official Recognition \u00a0<\/h3>\n
Highlights of the Diada Nacional of Catalonia\u00a0<\/h2>\n
History of Catalonia in Barcelona \u00a0<\/h3>\n
The Diada Castellera in Tarragona \u00a0<\/h3>\n
Tradition, Music and Popular Culture on Costa Dorada \u00a0<\/h3>\n