La Mercè fiestas
- When: 21st – 24th Septmeber 2018
- Where: Barcelona, Spain
- Website: irbarcelona.com
The Fiestas of La Mercè are the annual festivities of the city of Barcelona and have been its main festival since 1902 when it was celebrated for the first time in honour of the Virgen de la Merced. It is celebrated every year on September 24th and is host to a stunning array of human feats and mind-boggling events.
What is there to do in Barcelona?
Barcelona has a rich historical heritage thanks to its medieval quarter, Roman ruins and beautiful modernist buildings of the twentieth century. The buildings of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner are part of the World Heritage List and you can’t go to Barcelona without visiting at least one of them.
As well as the architecture, Spain’s second city has an impressive array of cultural activities on offer: sculptures, exhibitions, parks, museums, plays, dances, concerts and much more. There’s no doubt that this is one of the most acclaimed tourist destinations by visitors from all over the world, and it’s clear that there is no shortage of attractions.
As for the food, the most characteristic traditional dishes are based on fresh fish and vegetables and high-quality cured meats. At this point it’s also worth mentioning the famous handmade confectionery and in terms of drinks, sparkling wines are a must when visiting Barcelona.
Barcelona is a modern and welcoming city whose multiple festivals are part of the customs of the people who live there and are also of great tourist interest. It has an incredible infrastructure to be able to hold all kinds of events, fairs, congresses, seminars, concerts and of course, the La Mercè festival.
The highlights of the La Mercè festival
This celebration lasts approximately 5 days and is held to honour the patron saint of the city. Many events and activities are organised in the streets of Barcelona over the course of these 5 days, and for this reason we recommend leaving the car and not renting any means of transport, at least to use in the centre, because it will be too crowded. The public transport links in Barcelona are good enough to get you anywhere you need to go.
One of the main activities that take place in the La Mercé party is the Correfoc. This event takes place at dusk, on and around the Via Laietana street. There are two different types, a more relaxed one for young people and another for adults. Basically, there are special groups that wear disguises and walk or run through the streets with fireworks, firecrackers and fire that shoots from the mouths of dragons.
Another of the most outstanding places to go during these festivities is the Plaça de Sant Jaume square, where they create the famous human towers that can reach as high as buildings and may require hundreds of people to make. Then there’s the parade of giants, a fun event suitable for the kids and the whole family. There is also a light show projected onto the façades of the buildings in the same square. This beautiful show is free and takes place every night of the festival.
You really have no reason not to visit this party hosted by the city of Barcelona over a long weekend this September, so start planning your visit today!
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