The municipality of Oliana is set to send the giant Lussorio to its sister town of Olena, Italy, in mid-September. This collaboration highlights a deep-rooted friendship and cultural exchange between the two communities.
In a significant cultural exchange, the municipality of Oliana will dispatch the giant Lussorio to Olena, Italy, on September 11. This event marks an important milestone in their ongoing friendship that began in the 1990s and was formalized as a sister city relationship in 2018.
The creation of Lussorio has been a collaborative effort involving residents from both towns. Designed using artificial intelligence due to Sardinia’s restrictions on depicting real human figures, this towering figure stands at 3.6 meters tall and weighs approximately 40 kilograms. The project received funding from a European grant aimed at promoting cross-border cultural initiatives.
The origins of this unique bond trace back to when a young Sardinian visited Oliana and noticed the similarity between their town names. This initial encounter blossomed into formal agreements for friendship and collaboration over the years.
Lussorio was unveiled during the 34th Gegantera Meeting held in early August, where representatives from Olena participated actively in its design. The name honors San Lussori, a Roman soldier and martyr from the fourth century who hails from Sardinia.
The artistic process involved constant exchanges between Cardona, where master giant maker Toni Mujal resides, and both municipalities. Mujal explained how they incorporated traditional Sardinian attire into Lussorio’s costume: “The clothing was sent from Olena, while our local giants created accompanying dances.”
A particularly innovative aspect of this project is the dance created specifically for Lussorio. It merges traditional Sardinian music—featuring the accordion—with Catalan giant dance styles. Recently, a group of young people from Olena traveled to Oliana to learn this new choreography and gain insights into carrying giants.
“It has been a beautiful experience for both sides,” said Anna Vilana, president of the Group of Geganters and Grallers of Oliana.
Bastiano Cucca, one of the young participants from Olena who previously visited Oliana in 2018 but was unfamiliar with giant traditions, expressed his enthusiasm: “Learning about different customs has been wonderful.” His peer Cristian Calaresu shared his initial challenges with handling Lussorio but noted significant improvement after practice sessions.
This year’s festivities in Olena will be particularly special as they celebrate their 30th anniversary of Cortes Apertas. Alongside Lussorio, five other giants will accompany him on a trailer as part of this vibrant celebration.
The expedition will consist of around 50 to 60 residents, who will not only showcase their own traditions through performances but also participate actively in local celebrations by performing dances such as sardanas.
This event underscores how cultural exchanges can strengthen community bonds across borders while preserving local traditions. For those interested in witnessing this unique celebration firsthand or learning more about these rich cultural practices, details can be found on local tourism websites or by contacting municipal offices ahead of September’s festivities.
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