Photo: David Oliete
RESEARCH

Human Towers

Celebrating a Spanish tradition of unity, power and strength

Photographer and filmmaker David Oliete has documented the building of the Castells – human towers consisting of over 500 men standing ten men high. In 2010, this tradition from Catalonia, Spain, was placed on UNESCO’s list of ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’.

This extraordinary event encourages teamwork and collaboration of hundreds of people for one common goal, testing the limits of the human body as different teams compete to build the highest tower.

Each group uses a unique pattern to create the best structure, and whilst competition is rife, the teams in often come together to help form safety nets for each other’s human constructions – highlighting the unity instilled by this Spanish tradition…
Photo: David Oliete
Photo: David Oliete