La Mercè, Barcelona’s annual festival

La Mercè, Barcelona’s annual festival

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Titular:

La Mercè, Barcelona’s annual festival

Lugar evento:

Barcelona

Fecha evento:

22-25 September 2011

Evento desc breve:

The Mercè festivities are once again here, to celebrate the patron saint of Barcelona. Although Santa Mercè is on September 23 (local holiday in Barcelona), the events organized for this celebration always last about 4 or 5 days, beginning this year on the 22nd to Sunday 25th.

The Mercè festivities are once again here, to celebrate the patron saint of Barcelona. Although Santa Mercè is on September 23 (local holiday in Barcelona), the events organized for this celebration always last about 4 or 5 days, beginning this year on the 22nd to Sunday 25th.

La Mercè is an annual festival that marks the end of the summer and welcomes the fall, always full of activities for all ages and all tastes: concerts, workshops, performances, institutional events … This year the renowned Catalan journalist Joaquim Maria Puyal is responsible for reading the “proclamation”, the starting point of the festivities.

Castellers en La Merce - Hotel Paseo de Gracia Barcelona Castellers La MErcè - Hotel Paseo de Gracia Barcelona

If these days you are visiting Barcelona, we strongly recommend that you do not miss some of the more traditional activities such as "els gegants", the "sardanes" dances, "els castellers" or the "correfoc". The latter two are without doubt some of the most impressive traditions we have in Catalonia. Els Castellers are human towers that can reach 9 or 10 floors, and last year (2010) they were declared a World Heritage by Unesco. The Correfoc is a city parace featuring dragons, devils and fireworks. From Hotel Paseo de Gracia we recommend using long-sleeved shirts, long pants and maybe a scarf or hat to protect from the fire so that you can enjoy this wonderful tradition closely.

Correfoc La Mercè - Hotel Paseo de Gracia Barcelona

Sardanes in Pl. Catedral - Hotel Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona - Photo by: Carlos Muñoz Muriedas Gegants La Mercè - Hotel Paeo de Gracia, Barcelona
 

The celebration always ends on Sunday with a great Piromusical (fireworks, water and music) on Avenida Maria Cristina (Pl. Espanya).

You can find the entire program of the Festival on its official website.

 

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