The Town Council of Vilafranca del Penedès has chosen historian Jordi Vidal Pla to deliver the institutional conference for the National Day of Catalonia. The event will take place on Thursday, September 10th, at 8 PM in the session hall of the Casa de la Vila.
With this initiative, the Vilafranca council joins the commemorative acts for the Diada, a day to remember the country's history and reflect on the present and future of Catalonia.
Vidal's conference, titled “Some reflections on September 11th,” will link history and indoctrination, valuing the historical continuity of defeat in the collective Catalan memory and historically situating what was truly lost in 1714.
Jordi Vidal Pla (Barcelona, 1956) holds a degree in Modern History from the University of Barcelona and is a retired professor of Social Sciences. He taught at the Institut Eugeni d’Ors in Vilafranca del Penedès from 1981 to 2016. He is a member of the Institut d’Estudis Penedesencs (IEP) and the Comissió per la Memòria de l’Alt Penedès.
His research has focused on the political and social aspects of 17th-century Catalonia, with particular attention to the history of Vilafranca and the Penedès region. He is the author of several works, including "Guerra dels Segadors i crisi social. Els exiliats filipistes (1640-1652)" (1984) and "La Universitat de Vilafranca del Penedès durant els segles XVI i XVII" (2023), among others.
Vidal coordinated and wrote the "Història de Vilafranca del Penedès" (2008), a reference work on the city. He has also published articles in specialized journals and contributed to collective works on the history of Catalonia.
His outreach work includes directing videos such as "Història de Vilafranca. Segle XX. El Franquisme. 1939-60" (1999) and writing scripts for "Retalls d’Història" (2004-2006).
Following the conference, the council will lay a floral tribute at the monument to President Lluís Companys in Plaça dels Països Catalans, in the La Girada neighborhood, joined by other institutions and entities.
The next day, September 11th, under the slogan “Viu l’11 de setembre als barris” (Experience September 11th in the neighborhoods), there will be activities in Plaça Doctor Bonet in the Espirall neighborhood, including a children's party, an African music show by Inuwali Ki Fany, a percussion workshop, a performance by La Calle del Son, and the grallers group La Maçana. The activities will conclude with the Cant dels Segadors and a snack.
At 6:30 PM on the same day, September 11th, on the Rambla de Sant Francesc, the traditional sardana dance for National Day will take place, organized by Vilafranca Sardanista and performed by the local band cobla Catània.
