Sant Andreu’s beloved giants finally have a permanent home at the old Comtal train station, after more than two years of negotiations with Adif. The historic station – Spain’s oldest until it closed in December 2022 – will house the neighbourhood’s traditional figures starting this Saturday. A parade through central Sant Andreu will carry the giants to their new home, where they’ll stay on permanent display.
The giants will be visible through the station’s original stained-glass windows, creating a sort of public display case. Positioned between the new station and Sant Andreu de Palomar church, the space gives residents and visitors a prime spot to see Andreu and Colometa, who’ve led the local giant procession for forty years. The collection also includes the Gegants Coloms, little Galtetes, the grandparent figures Avis, and the big-headed characters Sereno and Castanyera.
The Colomí figure will also join the permanent display. This special piece leads the festa major parade and was funded through donations from local shops, residents and groups including UE Sant Andreu football club, the Casal cultural centre and La Lira music society. Right now, visitors can’t go inside the station, but the large windows mean you can still get a close look at all the figures from outside.
The station will eventually transform into a museum space dedicated to Sant Andreu’s festa major. Sergio Diéguez, president of Germandat Andreuenca, explains the goal is turning the station into a reference point for preserving and sharing the neighbourhood’s cultural heritage. Until now, the giants were stored at Fabra i Coats without any chance to be displayed properly.
Saturday’s parade starts at Fabra i Coats and winds through Otger, Balari Jovany, Segre and Cinca streets before reaching Plaça de l’Estació. The plan is for the first floor to become a cultural heritage space whilst the second floor stays with Adif.
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