La Trobada Gegantera means “The Encounter of Giants” in Catalan. In L’Escala the meaning is literal: prior to the celebration of the town’s festa mayor, the locals get together at the end of August to parade the colourful emblematic figures of Giants (“gegantes”) and the Big Heads (“capgrossos”) around town—the so-called Trobada Gegantera de l’Escala.
Gegantes are several meters tall, with sturdy frames made out of wood or light metal, with beautifully painted facial features and handsome period costumes. Each figure is controlled on the inside by a human who can move and shake the Giant to imitate it dancing. Capgrossos, on the other hand, are “human”-sized and can be easily distinguished by a large carton-pierre head and a matching costume.
Both types of characters reflect each town’s culture and local history — they commonly feature local noblemen and noblewomen, peasants, and historical figures of significance such as kings and queens. In L’Escala, you may also encounter animals, local characters, and even mermaids!
La Trobada Gegantera typically features a parade and a dance of the Giants to conclude the event. The parade begins at Plaça de les Escoles and ends at La Riba, where the dance then occurs.
