The year: 1687. The event: Barcelona was up against a horde of deadly attackers. The outcome: the city was delivered through the divine intervention of the Virgin of Mercy. Legend has it that Barcelona was afflicted by a plague of locusts such as never seen before and who threatened to destroy the city. To the rescue came the Virgin of Mercy, who saved the city and was to be forever remembered in history, immortalized in her new role as the patron saint of Barcelona and starring figure of La Mercè.  

Flash forward to February 23, 2009, the date that marks this year´s annual return of Barcelona’s largest, most renowned festival, La Mercè 2009. Activities commence in earnest today, as the streets of the city will soon be overflowing with music, parades and many citizens taking pride in their city´s holiday.   

Understandably, with a festival that boasts over 500 attractions, it may be a little difficult to cram them all into the short amount of time five days contains before the festival comes to a close on Sunday the 27th. Luckily, Come2BCN is here to help, with a list of don´t miss activities, ranging from parades to fireworks to music.

La Xambanga de Gegants (Wednesday the 23rd at 21:30 starting at Plaça dels Àngels): witness this Parade of the Giants as locals don oversized costumes and take to the streets for a long march throughout the city.  

La Diada castellera (Thursday the 24th at 12:30 at Plaza de Sant Jaume): come watch as troupes of profession acrobats create human towers, each trying to set a new record for most people stacked on top of each other.

 

El Correfoc (Saturday the 26th beginning at 20:30 in Porta Cambó): this fire run consists of a gauntlet of fireworks as people dash through them to the accompaniment of music

Manel, Billy Vision and The Dancers and The Hives (Saturday the 26th at 19:30 at Antiga Fàbrica Damm): come see this concert with a fantastic lineup of performers

El Piromusical (Sunday the 27th at 22:00 in Plaza España): these synchronized fireworks bring the celebration to an end.

After what is sure to be an exhilarating week at La Mercè, make sure to maximize your experience by resting up in one of our Barcelona apartments.