La Dansa de la Mort de Verges 2025 in Barcelona

La Danza de la Mort is performed every year on Maundy Thursday night in Verges, a small village located northwest of Barcelona near the Costa Brava shore. This Holy Week tradition, rooted in folk culture, dates back to the Middle Ages, a time when the theme of death played a prominent role in literature, music, painting, and religion. The performance is an integral part of the Passion of Jesus Christ, bringing this dramatic religious story to life through the streets and squares of the town.

Procession

The procession begins at noon from the church, with the streets of the village lit only by torches as scenes of the Passion come to life. The highlight is the "Dansa de la Mort" (Dance of Death), a macabre performance with medieval origins. In this haunting display, five skeletons arranged in the shape of a cross dance to the sound of drums, symbolizing the final judgment after death. The procession, accompanied by drummers, attracts thousands of spectators to witness the spectacle. Four other characters, holding torches, illuminate the dance, while the main performers include two adults—The Scythe and The Flag—and three children—The Plates, who carry a plate of ashes, and The Clock without hands.

Each character in The Dance of Death is assigned a symbol they carry, through which they communicate death maxims constantly and repetitively. The scythe, flag, and clock without hands and plates convey the message that death spares no one, cuts down our lives, and serves as a reminder that, at any moment, we will turn to ashes. Through these symbols, the performance emphasizes the inevitability and universality of death.

Tickets

The general fee for attending La Danza de la Mort de Verges is 32 euros, while the premium ticket is priced at 45 euros.

Origins

The Dance of Death was revived in Verges in the 17th century, specifically in 1666. Its incorporation into the Passionist parade is believed to have played a key role in preserving the dance, making it a rare example of survival and vitality. La Dansa de la Mort de Verges has gained international fame as a unique and ancestral tradition, representing a legacy of the macabre dances from the Catalan and European Middle Ages.