“The music of Pep Ventura, heard in a small village of the Empordà, in a square hung with corncobs on a timeless summer evening, watching the sun sink over the cypresses of the cemetery, was something that would cause a true shock.”
                                                                                   Josep Pla, My Country

The sardana is the national dance of Catalonia. As you will see, it forms part of all popular festivities, although its true origin is not known for certain.

The sardana is very popular in our district, and a good moment for enjoying it is at the aplecs (gatherings) held periodically in each town or village. Here you can spend hours listening to or dancing sardanes, played by the specialised orchestra, the cobla.

In the Baix Empordà, the musical tradition of the cobla is very widespread and prolific, for this has long been a land of fine performers and composers of sardanes. The oldest cobles still performing in Catalonia, Els Montgrins and La Principal de la Bisbal, are from our district. Both have celebrated their centenary and are still going strong.

There are also many sardana dance groups, known as colles, who organise meetings to perform the dances and perfect this art. Each colla wears its own distinctive costume. Periodically, contests are organised between the colles in order to compete and exhibit their skill in executing the intricate steps of the dance.