Tarragona International Fireworks Displays Competition

The most important fireworks contest in the Mediterranean area is held every first week of July in Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain, in a wonderful bay -Punta del Miracle-, a place praised by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The selector board, formed by people appointed by the City Council of Tarragona, selects six international pyrotechnic companies every year. Then the order of shooting is decided through a draw. The fireworks are both aerial and aquatic.

The jury is usually formed by sixteen international members chaired by the Lord Mayor. The jury mainly takes into account the occupation of the air space; purity, intensity, brightness and duration of the colours; the chromatic variety, luminosity, dimensions, form designs, elegance, diversity of effects, sonority, conjunction with the environment, originality, rhythm, the plan of the performance, the starting, the final crescendo and acceptance by the public.

Since 1990 very important companies from all over the world have fired in Tarragona Contest: Ricardo Caballer, Vicente Caballer and Turís from Valencia; Pirogestión and Igual from Catalonia; Astondoa from Basque country; Francesco Pagano, Martarello, La Rosa Lorenzo and Orzella from Italy; Lidu and China Panda from China; Marutamaya and Tamaya from Japan; Gamma P from Germany; and Foti from Australia.

Daily sixty thousand people see every display, and a lot of pyrotechnicians come to Tarragona to buy new products. The winner gets the first prize and also fires fireworks display at Santa Tecla Festival, one of the most important Spanish traditional festivals, between 15th and 24th September. It has been celebrated since 1321 and it has been considered of national touristic interest by Spanish government.

External resources

* [http://www.tarragona.feuerwerk.net Official website of the competition, English and German version]
* [http://www.tarragona.piroart.com Official website in Spanish, Catalan and English]