El Turuta: A Century of the Anthem That Moved from Barracks to Carnival

The famous melody of Vilanova i la Geltrú celebrates its centenary as the official soundtrack of the Comparses.

Generic image of a festive street celebration in Vilanova i la Geltrú.
IA

Generic image of a festive street celebration in Vilanova i la Geltrú.

The city of Vilanova i la Geltrú celebrates in 2026 the 100th anniversary of El Turuta, a military melody that has become the unofficial anthem of its famous Carnival.

Originally composed in 1926 by Roman de San José at the Military Academy of Ávila, this pasodoble arrived in the Garraf region through military bands before the Spanish Civil War.
Over the last century, the song transitioned from its martial roots to a popular folk anthem, becoming the soul of the Comparsa and a key element of the local cultural heritage.