* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia
I have captured this photograph for La Vanguardia Readers' Photos in which we can see a swan in the Castell de Peralada pond, a beautiful environment where this beautiful aquatic bird fits perfectly.
The swan was a bird sacred to Apollo, as the god of music, because it was believed that the swan sang melodiously shortly before dying. It is not surprising, then, that this animal is linked to Peralada, where one of the most popular classical music festivals on the calendar is held.
Pythagoras said that this bird resembled a soul that never dies and that its song before dying comes from the joy it experiences because it will be freed from its mortal body.
Swans were also dedicated to Venus, for their whiteness and temperament. The float is sometimes pulled by swans.
Previously known as Castell Toló -or Tolón Castle-, after successive renovations, it was acquired by the businessman Miguel Mateu in 1923, who managed to revitalize the winemaking tradition of the Empordà.
The monumental complex of the Castell de Peralada is located within the urban center, it includes the casino facilities and the Wine Museum, as well as an extensive garden area where the prestigious Peralada International Music Festival is held annually.
