Verges (Girona)

Verges parish
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Catalonia
Province :	Girona
Comarca :	Baix Empordà
Coordinates	42 ° 4 ' N , 3 ° 3' E Coordinates: 42 ° 4 ' N , 3 ° 3' E
Height :	23 msnm
Area :	9 km²
Residents :	1,171 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density :	130.11 inhabitants / km²
Municipality number ( INE ):	17211
administration
Mayor :	Marta Payeró Torró
Website :	webspobles.ddgi.cat/sites/verges/default.aspx
Location of the municipality

Verges is a Spanish municipality in the Baix Empordà region , which is in the autonomous province of Catalonia .

economy

Traditionally, the most important economic sectors in the place are agriculture and livestock .

Attractions

The ruins of the Verges Castle , which in its documented origins dates back to the early 12th century and which today characterizes the medieval core of the village with the remains of the defense towers and fortification walls; Parts of the castle ruins were integrated into the building of today's municipal administration and the village church that was built later.

The Romanesque church of Sant Julià i Santa Basilissa from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Procession on Maundy Thursday

Processó de Verges - Dance of the Dead

In Verges, on Maundy Thursday, a procession that is known beyond the borders of Catalonia takes place in the historic center of the town. The Processó de Verges begins at 10 p.m. in the market square with the performance of scenes from the Passion story of Jesus Christ . Afterwards, in the darkness of the night, numerous villagers dressed as skeletons march through the ancient streets of Verges to the rhythm of drums , the so-called Dansa de la Mort ('Dance of the Dead'). This passion play, unique in all of Spain, is one of the traditional and well-known open-air performances in Catalonia; Today it is also considered one of the oldest manifestations of sacred art and refers to medieval roots. The dance of death is intended to visualize the transience of life and how to deal with death. In 2009 this mystical dance of death was conducted by the internationally known songwriter and singer Lluís Llach , who was born in Girona but spent his entire childhood in Verges.