Author Coia Valls, born in Reus in 1960, will be responsible for kicking off the 2026 Sant Pere Festival. Valls, author of novels such as 'La princesa de jade' or 'El somni de Gaudí', faces this commitment with great emotion and the desire to turn her speech into a journey through the memories that have marked her life and literary career, especially in a year dedicated to Antoni Gaudí.
Upon receiving the proposal, Valls expressed deep emotion and a strong sense of responsibility. She described the role of opening speaker as an opportunity to become, for a few minutes, the voice of the city. This honor represents a huge recognition for her, as, despite later living in Tarragona, she considers many of her personal and cultural roots to remain in Reus, in the streets of her childhood and in the stories she has captured in her works.
Memory will play a central role in her speech. Valls has highlighted how the city has gifted her significant moments, such as being named the featured writer at the Xavier Amorós Library, a space symbolizing urban transformation and historical continuity. The author emphasizes that cities are not just inhabited but also inherited, and that small memories, like street games or afternoons in the bookstore, build individual and collective identity.
Valls evokes the Festival of her childhood as an experience lived in the streets, with rituals that built community and a magic she now attributes to the people who make it possible. Her favorite moment is the instants before the main events, when the square fills up and the city holds its breath. Among the festive elements, she highlights the Mulassa (a traditional giant figure), which evokes a mix of respect, fascination, and a bit of intimidation, a feeling she believes is shared by many children from Reus.
Preparing the speech is an emotional journey for Valls. As a novelist, she has often worked with memory and family stories, and now she applies this exercise to her own city. She recalls the sounds of the streets before asphalt, the games of jumping between cobblestones, and the afternoons spent preparing books at home. She compares memory to a mosaic (trencadís), where old pieces reveal new images, and hopes the speech will speak of both the visible city and the one each person carries within.
The author also reflects on the influence of Reus on her literary work, with spaces like the Plaça del Mercadal or memories such as Corpus Christi flower carpets appearing in her novels. She believes that, despite writing alone, publishing is an adventure that connects with many people, and her books have fostered valuable bonds. 'La princesa de jade' is seen as a decisive turning point in her career.
Valls combines historical rigor and human emotion in her works, seeking to understand the feelings of people who lived in past eras. She views the coincidence of being the opening speaker during the Gaudí Year, after publishing 'El somni de Gaudí', as a fortunate chance, a closing circle. Her fascination with the Sagrada Familia lies in its continuity and the perseverance of generations who have worked towards a dream that transcends time.
Finally, Coia Valls summarizes the meaning of Reus as home, Sant Pere as the memories that have accompanied her throughout her life, and Gaudí as proof that dreams can continue to grow beyond us. She imagines Gaudí enjoying the Festival, observing the light, colors, and sensations, turning the experience into a new way of understanding beauty.
