Love is in the air this spring in Barcelona with Dia De Sant Jordi coming up on April 23rd! The Dia de Sant Jordi, or Saint George, is a holiday of romance and a day to honor the patron saint of Cataluña. The ramblas is packed with vendors selling roses and books, the traditional gifts given to women and men respectively on the holiday. By the end of the week, over 4 million roses and 400,000 books are bought in Barcelona, over half the book sales for the entire year! It´s rare to walk the streets of the city and not see a man or woman without a rose or book in hand, but singles never fear, the Dia de Sant Jordi celebrates the love between friends as well. Watch the dancing of the Sardana, a traditional Catalonian dance performed throughout the day and even join if the mood strikes, or take a coffee break in one of the many cafes and enjoy a book reading! So gather some friends or your significant other, make a reservation at a great restaurant, and join in on the love and celebration in Barcelona. Book your apartment for the weekend today with ComeToBarcelona!

Cataluña, like many other Spanish regions, has many local customs, traditions, and parties. These events and traditions typically take place in the plazas and streets located around the area.

One of the most celebrated holidays is the day of Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalonia, which is celebrated on April 23rd all throughout Catalonia. This date is celebrated on the day of the book and rose. Barcelona has floral perfumes all throughout the streetS, especially in the main areas of the city. The Barcelona citizens leave to the street in search of roses and books for their loved ones, friends, and soul mates.

The origin of this festival is very unique and it blends traditions/customs that are from different times. This festival marks the day that Sant Jordi was the patron of Cataluña (since the year 1456) with the custom of a parade of roses in the Palace of Generalitiat.

More traditional celebrations were added on the Day of the Book that was established in Spain in 1926. The celebration ended up mixed a variety of Catalan traditions which created a great public acceptance to the idea.

Sant Jordi is one of the dates that Catalans advise tourists interested in Barcelona to come. If you are interested in visiting the city for Sant Jordi, check out our prices and availability for Barcelona apartments.