Some window displays allow us to discover festive figures, others tell us about traditions, and some connect us directly with the history of our city. This is one of them.

This March, we have the privilege and honour of dedicating Espai Robafaves to the Armats de Mataró, one of the most emblematic traditions of Mataró’s Holy Week and an inseparable part of the city’s festive heritage.

But behind the uniforms, helmets, spears and discipline are, above all, people. People who put their heart, dedication and soul into keeping alive a tradition with more than three centuries of history.

🗓 Dates: 9 to 25 March 2026
⏰ Opening hours: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
📍 Location: Espai Robafaves – c/ Montserrat, 7, Mataró

A history that takes us back to 1705

The history of the Armats de Mataró dates back to at least 1705. Since then, their presence has become deeply connected with the city’s Holy Week celebrations.

More than three centuries have passed, yet every Holy Week the Armats continue to take to the streets of Mataró, keeping alive a tradition that has been passed down from one generation to the next.

Their distinctive way of marching, the discipline of their formations, the sound of their footsteps, and the silence and respect that surround them have created an image that forms part of the collective memory of many people in Mataró.

From Mataró to Rome

The history of the Armats has also travelled far beyond the city. One of their most memorable experiences took them to Rome, where they were received by Pope John Paul II.

It was there that the pontiff described them as “soldiers of peace”, words that have remained closely linked to the history of the group.

A particularly meaningful expression: beneath the appearance of a Roman military formation there is no intention of war, but rather tradition, culture, discipline and a shared history that remains alive in the streets of Mataró.

The people who keep history alive

When a tradition is more than three hundred years old, it is easy to focus on dates, uniforms or major milestones. But no tradition can survive for so long without the people who choose to carry it forward.

Every member of the Armats is part of a chain connecting present-day Mataró with centuries of history. Rehearsals, preparation, dedication and countless hours of work that often remain unseen when the time finally comes to take to the streets.

It is precisely this dedication that we also want to highlight through our window display: festive heritage does not preserve itself; it remains alive thanks to the people who love it.

A window display with history

Welcoming the Armats to Espai Robafaves allows us to bring part of Mataró’s Holy Week closer to children and adults alike, giving everyone the opportunity to see some of the elements that define their identity up close.

But above all, it allows us to explain that behind every piece there is a story that began more than three centuries ago and is still being written today.

This window display forms part of the commitment we made at Espai Robafaves in 2023: to bring popular and festive culture closer to everyone and to give space to the people, figures and traditions that form part of our heritage.

This March, we open a window onto one of the longest-standing traditions in our city.

CULTURE, TRADITION AND FUN!

📸 Photography: @ferranmp_cat

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