Castells, giants, drones and eight centuries of history around a basilica in the Gothic Quarter
Today, 24 September, Barcelona wakes up in a festive mood, its streets filled with locals and visitors alike. It is the day of La Mercè, the patron saint of our city, and from our hotels we would like to wish you a very happy day: today Barcelona’s Festa Major begins. Here is the full programme.
A celebration that reaches every corner of the city
From 23 to 27 September, Barcelona celebrates La Mercè with 109 concerts, 55 traditional culture performances and 180 street arts shows, spread across 32 venues in all 10 districts of the city. This year Shanghai is the guest city, bringing its folk culture to the Fòrum, including its traditional articulated dragons. Among the new features are a show at Park Güell paying tribute to the centenary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, and a new stage at Plaça de les Glòries.
The most iconic events
For the coming days, we recommend saving these moments in your diary:
- Castells day: Sunday 27 at 12 noon. All the city’s colles castelleres gather in Plaça de Sant Jaume. Castells, spectacular human towers, are recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- The Mercè Cavalcada, the festive parade of giants and traditional figures: today at 6 pm in Plaça de Catalunya and at 7 pm in Plaça de Sant Jaume.
- “El fil vermell. De Barcelona a Shanghai” (The Red Thread. From Barcelona to Shanghai), a show featuring 750 drones at the Espigó del Gas, today at 9 pm and 10 pm.
- Open doors: to mark La Mercè day, a number of museums and cultural venues open their doors free of charge, including the Sagrada Família.
- Fireworks on the beaches on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 at 10 pm, the children’s Correfoc (fire run) on Saturday at 6 pm, and the main Correfoc de la Mercè at 8.30 pm.
- The grand finale: this year the Piromusical moves to Nova Icària beach due to construction work at the Fira de Montjuïc. It takes place on Sunday 27 at 10 pm, with music selected by Josep Montero of Oques Grasses.
Food lovers will enjoy the Terra i Gust market, returning to Parc de la Ciutadella on 25, 26 and 27 September. For those who appreciate graphic art, the free exhibition “Moltes Mercès” brings together, for the first time, all 48 festival posters from 1979 to the present day at the Museu Frederic Marès. Public transport will be reinforced and the metro will run all night on Friday and Saturday. Full programme · Download the programme (PDF)
Why La Mercè is Barcelona’s patron saint
The story begins with a legend. On the night of 24 September 1218, the Virgin appeared simultaneously to King Jaume I, Pere Nolasc and Ramon de Penyafort, asking them to found an order devoted to freeing Christian captives. This is how the Mercedarian order was born.
Centuries later came the event that made her the city’s patron. Until then, Saint Eulàlia had been Barcelona’s sole patron saint, yet in 1687 the city suffered a plague of locusts that seemed impossible to stop. Barcelona entrusted itself to the Virgin of La Mercè, and the Consell de Cent, the city’s historic governing council, named her patron. The Pope ratified the decision in 1868, and from 1871 the celebration took on a civic and popular character, open to all citizens.
The word itself holds a beautiful meaning: mercè comes from the Latin mercede, meaning price, reward or gratitude, and dictionaries also associate it with kindness and with help or comfort offered to others. A fitting description of the spirit of this festival.
The Basilica of La Mercè and its surroundings
In the Gothic Quarter, between Carrer Ample and Carrer de la Mercè, stands the Baroque basilica, built by Josep Mas i Dordal between 1765 and 1775 on the site of a medieval church dating back to 1249. Its history can be read in layers: in 1870 a 15th-century Gothic façade from the former church of Sant Miquel was installed on the Carrer Ample side, and in 1888 the great dome, designed by Joan Martorell, was added. Its camarín houses a Gothic image of the Virgin, and in 1918, on the occasion of the seventh centenary, it was granted the title of minor basilica.
The surrounding area is well worth exploring at a leisurely pace. The former Mercedarian convent is now home to the Capitanía General, the military headquarters on Passeig de Colom, just steps from Port Vell. Carrer Ample and Carrer de la Mercè retain the charm of their traditional taverns, perfect for a stop after your visit. The basilica is easily reached on foot or by metro, at Drassanes (L3) or Barceloneta (L4).
La Mercè, just a short walk from our hotels
Today the Cavalcada sets off from Plaça de Catalunya, only a few minutes from Hotel Continental Barcelona and Hotel Continental Palacete. From there, strolling down La Rambla to Plaça de Sant Jaume or the basilica is one of the best ways to feel the city on its big day. For our family, La Mercè is also a celebration of our own: that of a city that opens its streets to all who arrive.
Happy Mercè!
