Month: September 2020

La Mercè Barcelona is finally here! This week, from 23 to 27 of September 2020, join us for one of the biggest festivals on Barcelona’s calendar. Remember that on Friday 25 no events will be held, but the celebrations will resume on Saturday for the weekend.

La Mercè is a festival that dates back to the Middle Ages in honour of Our Lady of Mercy. As you’ll have learnt in our past articles here and here, nowadays, it unites the city of Barcelona in one huge celebration for young and old alike.

Given this year’s exceptional circumstances, there will be some changes to the celebrations for La Mercè Barcelona compared to previous years. In this article, we’ll talk you through the safety measures in place, in addition to the online events, to ensure everyone gets a chance to celebrate.

In this article on La Mercè in Barcelona we’ve got you covered. From fireworks, live music concerts, street events, and the famous La Mercè closing ceremony, we’ll make sure you don’t miss out on a single thing.

La Mercé Barcelona 2020: Covid-19 measures

La Mercè 2020 will take place during the day from 11:00 am to 22:00 in order to ensure better control. All events have limited capacity and must be booked online here in advance.

La Mercè Barcelona this year has unfortunately had to forgo its typical correfoc (fire run) which is normally held every year on 24 September. Likewise, the castellers (human towers) will no longer take place this year given government restrictions. The main reason is to avoid crowds of people gathering and to ensure social distancing.

The City Council has also decided to cancel all digital light mapping shows, and what’s more, the events will be spread out across 10 neighbourhoods to prevent excessive crowds. Locations this year include many of Barcelona’s greatest spots, such as Ciutadella Park, Park Güell, Camp Nou, Joan Miró Park,  Grec Theatre and Montjüic castle.

La Mercé Barcelona 2020: Opening ceremony

This year the festival’s opening ceremony (the pregó in Catalan), will take place as usual at the City Hall but will not be open to the public. Be sure to watch the opening ceremony live on betevé or on La Mercè’s official website.

As you may guess, the theme of this year’s speech by entertainer and clown “Tortell Poltrona” will be to encourage citizens and visitors Barcelona to celebrate La Mercè whilst respecting the safety regulations in place.

La Mercé Barcelona 2020: Live music concerts

You’ll be pleased to know that the Barcelona City Council has made sure that many concerts can still take place this year, always following all regulations and safety measures.

This year, however, it is essential that you book your tickets online here. With a line-up that ranges from the Barcelona Municipal Band, House of Pharaohs to a selection of DJs, Sabor de Gràcia, the Barcelona symphonic orchestra, and local jazz bands, you’re sure to find something up your street.

We couldn’t possibly list all the concerts if we tried! You can also check out this link here for a list of all concerts and activities.

La Mercè Barcelona 2020: Closing ceremony

This year’s magical closing ceremony (known as the Piromusical) will take place on Sunday 27 at 10:00 pm at Plaça Espanya. However, as we’ve mentioned, this year the event will not be open to the public in order to avoid crowds and ensure social distancing.

However, not to worry! Head  to your nearest rooftop or balcony, as this year the fireworks will be even bigger and better than in past years so they can be seen and enjoyed all over the city.  The event will also be broadcast live on TV3 with a vintage soundtrack that pays homage to Barcelona’s oldest and wisest citizens: the over 60s.

What’s more, there will be four other simultaneous fire shows at points around the city in the areas of Sants-Montjuïc, Nou Barris, Les Corts and Sant Martí.

La Mercè Barcelona 2020: from home

As mentioned, this year La Mercé En Obert (Open Mercè) will be streamed live on TV (Betevé) and La Mercè website to ensure no one misses out on the opening and closing events, concerts, street shows, traditional celebrations, and much more, from the safety of their own homes.

What are your plans for La Mercè this year? We hope you have a blast!

Barcelona churches are synonymous with magnificent architecture and unforgettable history. With over 200 churches scattered around the city, we’ve picked out 10 Barcelona churches worth visiting thanks to their historical, cultural or architectural value.

We will cover the city’s most famous churches – from the Sagrada Familia and the Barcelona cathedral and Santa María del Mar – to some lesser known but equally as stunning churches, just waiting to be discovered.

If you’re visiting Barcelona, don’t miss out on these hidden-away delights. Let us take you on a tour of Barcelona churches to discover another side of the city.

These 10 Barcelona churches are the ones we recommend you must see on your next visit!

Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar

This stunning example of Catalan Gothic architecture has a special place in the heart of all Barcelona locals, which was built thanks to the donations of local businessmen and residents. We’d thoroughly recommend a guided door to discover its crypts and rooftops with breathtaking views. Discover more in our article on this special Barcelona church.

Interested in learning more about this important piece of history? This Barcelona church inspired a book by ldefonso Falcones plus a TV series. You can discover many more books written about or set in Barcelona here.

Address: Plaça de Santa Maria, 1, 08003 Barcelona

Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor

This Neogothic monument is located almost 600 m above sea level with views overlooking the entire city. This Barcelona church started out as a small chapel; the construction as the church we know it as today started in 1902 and ended in 1961.

Why not make a day of it and also discover the Tibidabo amusement park? It’s the perfect plan for the whole family.

Address: Ctra. de Vallvidrera al Tibidabo, 111, 08035 Barcelona

Monestir de Pedralbes

Founded in 1327, this Gothic monastery just outside the city centre boasts a three-floor cloister, a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions, and beautiful gardens. What’s more, its walls are brimming with history.

Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9, 08034 Barcelona

Basílica de la Sagrada Família

Need we say more? The Sagrada Familia, the ultimate Gaudí’s masterpieces, is a church that is synonymous with Barcelona. Don’t miss the chance to uncover the secrets of this World Heritage Site, which is a monument to Catalan identity. Discover more about the history of this epic Barcelona church and visiting it here.

Address: C. de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona

Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia

The name of the Cathedral of Barcelona can be translated as “Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Sant Eulalia” after the city’s patron saint, who is buried inside its walls.

This beautiful Barcelona church is an example of Gothic Catalan architecture that took 150 years to build. It can be found in the heart of the Gothic quarter. Discover our guide to one of Barcelona’s most fascinating neighbourhood’s here.

Address: Pla de la Seu, s/n, 08002 Barcelona

Basílica de Montserrat

The church of the Montserrat monastery is a must for all those who visit Barcelona.  Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims who once travelled to this mountain to visit this sanctuary of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat.

A thousand years have passed since its founding, yet believers and non-believers from around the world still flock to this Barcelona church. Set in the mountains, it makes the perfect day trip for walkers. Discover how to get there and what to see whilst there here.

Address: 08199 Montserrat, Barcelona

Basílica Santa María del Pi

A stone’s throw away from the city’s famous avenue ‘Las Ramblas’, you’ll find art, culture and community tucked away in this historic square. Wander around this Gothic-style church and contemplate its beautiful stained glass windows, including the fascinating “Rose window”.

Address: Plaça del Pi, 7, 08002 Barcelona

Església de Sant Felipe Neri

On first glance, you perhaps may not even notice the San Felipe Neri church tucked away in this quaint, tranquil square, yet its walls hold a tragic tale that dates back to the Spanish Civil War.

Definitely worth a visit, if you would like to learn more about the neighbourhood of Cuitat Vella, where this Barcelona church is located, check out our guide here.

Address: Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, 2, 08002 Barcelona

Monastir de Santa Anna

Carrer de Santa Anna, 29, 08002 Barcelona

This former monastery located in the Gothic quarter is a Barcelona church you don’t want to miss. This Roman-style church still conserves much of its original architecture, despite having some Gothic elements. 

Check out its website before visiting to discover concerts and events held in its beautiful courtyard.

Basílica de la Puríssima Concepció

The curious thing about this basilica is that it was once the Jonqueres Monastery. In the 19^th century, stone by stone, it was moved to its new location in the heart of L’Exiample.

If you plan to visit the sights of Eixample, don’t miss this little-known Barcelona church, with a tranquil garden home to a plethora of exotic plants tucked away inside its walls.

Address: Aragó, 299, Carrer de Roger de Llúria, 70, 08009 Barcelona

Given these uncertain times, we recommend you check visiting times for Barcelona churches either online or by phone before you visit.

We hope you enjoy this guide to Barcelona churches. Let us know, which is your favourite Barcelona church?

Going back to Barcelona is the wish for many Barcelona lovers…

The miracle case of the Barcelona nest

This story could be named “The miracle case of the Barcelona nest”.

It was a warm, mid-July Mediterranean night. One of those in which the heat makes it difficult for us to fall asleep, a typical July night in Barcelona. That night a group of friends decided to seek the cooling sea breeze on the Mar Bella beach in Barcelona. The heat was stifling and the beach that night was the perfect place to meet, chat with friends and listen to the waves crash on the shore.

But no one could have imagined was what was about to happen. A few meters from them, in the sand, a few repetitive blows accompanied by strange sounds, put them on alert.

The discovery

As they approached, a dark figure surprised them in the night. Stunned they discovered an adult specimen of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) trapped under a construction fence, repatedly hitting it, fighting to get out. The first thing they did, without really understanding what was really happening, was to record the scene to upload it to their social networks … if we don’t record and publish it, no one is going to believe us! … they must have thought. This was definitely a spectacle more typical of paradisiacal beaches of the tropics, than of an urban beach in Barcelona. Then with the video ready, they reintroduced the turtle into the sea.

The nest

The CRAM foundation, which is dedicated to the protection of marine biodiversity against global threats, has described it as an “unusual event”. They were the ones who discovered the nest, after watching the video on social networks and contacting the group of young people.

Of the 77 eggs, 60 remain in the nest on the beach in a fenced area supervised 24 hours a day and the other 17 were transferred to the CRAM incubators for breeding in captivity.

10 baby turtles were born this Sunday night August 31, 2020 on the beach of la Mar Bella in Barcelona and were released into the sea on what’s the first day of the rest of their lives. Experts say the areas where these turtles used to nest are warming up and they are starting to look for other areas to breed. The truth is that we are living strange times and nature seems to find its ways.

Going back to Barcelona?

As we said before, going back to Barcelona is the wish for many Barcelona lovers…and they are many and diverse. At one point in their life, these adult turtles will feel the call of the nest in which they were born. A nest that her mother chose to locate on a beach in Barcelona, a most unusual place, and this will be the time to return.

Nature definitely finds its ways. This unique and precious event means a breath of hope, it means that when circumstances are adverse, our instincts strive to show us the way to overcome obstacles and survive.

Going back to Barcelona, will be the message that will arise from deep inside to close the circle. And when they return to their beach, El Parc Güell, La Casa Batlló, Gaudí and La Sagrada Familia, Santa Maria del Mar and Picasso and his Museum, will still be here waiting in beautiful Barcelona.

In the near future, we will have to do things in a different way since it has been shown that we are all connected to each other and to the planet and life does not stop and it will run us like a great roller that crushes and molds us.

“Preparation and education are therefore the highest priority. An international effort would be required, and it is essential that governments can anticipate the next pandemic and prepare to stop it at its point of origin rather than simply react and cause the long-term destruction of our society and economy, as it is currently happening” concludes this article published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine.

For those of you who have never been to Barcelona and as our friend Caretta Caretta, feel that something inside attracts you to this point on the planet and for those who Barcelona is already part of your lives, there is a beach here wishing you to leave a piece of yourself.