{"id":3851,"date":"2015-02-09T16:36:43","date_gmt":"2015-02-09T15:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/2015\/02\/09\/gustau-alegrets-most-personal-tarragona-human-and-architectural-cathedrals-and-the-balcony-of-the-mediterranean\/"},"modified":"2015-02-09T16:36:43","modified_gmt":"2015-02-09T15:36:43","slug":"gustau-alegrets-most-personal-tarragona-human-and-architectural-cathedrals-and-the-balcony-of-the-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarragonaexperience.com\/en\/2015\/02\/09\/gustau-alegrets-most-personal-tarragona-human-and-architectural-cathedrals-and-the-balcony-of-the-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"Gustau Alegret\u2019s most personal Tarragona; human and architectural cathedrals, and the Balcony of the Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gustau<\/a><\/p>\n

The word cathedral<\/em>, in the vocabulary of castells, represents the so-called cinc de vuit<\/em> (a human tower with 8 floors in high and 5 people per floor), considered, not that long ago, one of the castells<\/em> with the most solid base of them all, due to the unique two-plus-three structure that defines it. On the ephemeral art of raising and erecting human towers then, building a category 5 castell<\/em> has evoked, for centuries, the construction of a cathedral, probably due to the magnificence and complexity of this human structure. Gustau Alegret<\/strong>, a journalist born in Tarragona that lives now in Washington<\/strong>, where he works as a correspondent for both RAC1<\/strong> and NTN24<\/strong>, chose Tarragona\u2019s Cathedral<\/strong> and the monument to castells<\/em><\/strong> in Rambla Nova as two of his most favourite spots in the city. Alegret<\/strong>, who despite the distance keeps his bonds with the city and, among others, writes periodically for the local newspaper Diari de Tarragona<\/strong>, is the character chosen for this month\u2019s edition of the #lamevatarragona project<\/strong>; that is, his most personal and private Tarragona<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We agree to meet Gustau<\/strong> at Pla de la Seu<\/strong> around Christmas<\/strong> time, since he\u2019s back to his city in order to spend the holidays with his family. The morning is absolutely spectacular, and the sun is shinning brightly proving the point of those that believe Tarragona<\/strong> to be on a permanent springtime. Very timely and reliable, Gustau<\/strong> arrives with the homework spot on, and reveals the pictures of his most personal Tarragona<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Monument<\/a><\/p>\n

On his way up the Rambla Nova<\/strong>, he stopped at the monument to castells<\/em><\/strong> to capture several photos with his mobile phone: \u201cIf there is one tradition that belongs to Tarragona that I like to tell people about when I travel, these are the castellers<\/em>, for what they symbolise, for the concept of group, unity, construction, and even I\u2019d dare say, of construction of a country; a proud country, built with effort, tenacity and putting always in mind the concepts of group and community above individualism<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Balc\u00f3Mediterrani\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Then, following up the Rambla Nova<\/strong>, Gustau Alegret<\/strong> performs the tradition of tocar ferro<\/em> (literally touching iron, the veranda at the Balcony of the Mediterranean<\/strong>) and grabs his phone once again to take new pictures. \u201cRomans were very clever, because they knew how to place Tarragona in one of the spots where light has that very special magic<\/em>\u201d, he says. The Balcony of the Mediterranean<\/strong> is, probably, the place where one can more easily perceive the strategic placing of Tarragona<\/strong>, staring at the sea, a calm and quiet Mediterranean Sea<\/strong>. \u201cTouching iron reminds me of when my father, when I was little, would take me for an ice-cream at La Rambla. It was a true tradition. We would get to the Balcony to see the boats and contemplate some unique views<\/em>\u201d. <\/p>\n

\"Catedral<\/a><\/p>\n

The vicious circle of Alegret<\/strong>\u2019s personal Tarragona<\/strong> makes to an end at Pla de la Seu<\/strong>, where we\u2019ve previously met. Sitting on the stairs, the journalist explains that \u201cIf there is any cathedral in the world that is part of my life, this is Tarragona\u2019s. It taught me the evolution from Romanesque to Gothic architecture. It is an unfinished cathedral, yet full of symbolism, which hides a deep history, not just of Catalonia, nor the Iberian Peninsula, but of Europe<\/em>\u201d. Besides its beauty, it also possesses mystical and introspective characteristics. \u201cWalking inside the Cathedral brings a lot of peace to me, as well as many memories to my mind. To me, the rose window at the end of the main nave is a bucolic sight. It has a religious essence to it, which I find every time I go inside and wander around the side chapels<\/em>\u201c.<\/p>\n