La Sardana

La Sardana, Catalan dance, Placa Nova, Barcelona

On Saturday evenings in Barcelona, people gather to dance the Sardana, a traditional Catalan circle dance. The Sardana is a symbol of Catalan cultural unity, representing regional pride and Catalonia’s distinct identity from the rest of Spain. A small orchestra (cobla) plays the music. After the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco’s government banned the Sardana as a symbol of Catalan identity and nationalism. In 2010, the Catalan government added the Sardana to its list of Catalan festivities and made it a dance of national interest. This photo was taken in front of the Cathedral on Barcelona’s Plaça Nova.