Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had hoped Catalonia's "silent majority" would deal separatism a decisive blow in what was a de facto independence referendum, but his hard line backfired.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy left the nation breathless when he announced the steps he wants to take to crush the separatist movement in the prosperous Catalonia region.

Building human towers, or castells, are a very popular cultural event in many town festivals in Catalonia.