Baixada de les escales (Descent of the stairs) and popular folk dances of Sitges

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23rd August

Sant Bartomeu (Saint Bartholomew) is a unique experience shared every year by locals and visitors alike, following on from Sitges’ spectacular castell de focs (fireworks display). We are talking about the Baixada de les escales dels balls populars (the descent of the stairs by the popular folk dances), where ‘gegants’ (giants), ‘cabeçuts’ (big-heads), ‘colles de foc’ (fire groups) and popular dance groups parade down the stairs of the Sant Bartomeu church to the seafront promenade. If you thought the fireworks display was the main event, wait until you see this parade of fire, music and dance…

Colles de foc y gigantes descienden las escaleras de la iglesia de Sant Bartomeu entre fuego y humo durante la Bajada de las Escaleras de Sitges.

Descent, parade… and time to dance!

Sitges’ monumental and magnificent castell de focs (fireworks display) is followed by another that starts in the Plaça del Baluard, continues across the facade of the Sant Bartomeu church—our beloved ‘Punta’—and culminates in the traditional and spectacular Baixada de les escales (descent of the stairs), featuring fire beasts and the town’s popular folk dances. Once this pyrotechnic descent is over, it’s time for dancing (can you think of a better way to end a festival in Sitges?). The meeting point is right at the bottom, on the seafront promenade itself, for the equally traditional ’revetlla de la vigília de Sant Bartomeu’ (St Bartholomew’s Eve open-air celebration)