ColinTomson

In this topic I would like to share and collect impressions and opinions about the Barcelona`s 5 days festival
"Festes de la Merce"

Eurocentric

One of our greatest travel experiences. Not to miss: castellers, Sunday in Placa Sant Jaume; Correfoc, Saturday night on Via Laietana; Sunday night, Font Majica music, dancing waters, fireworks show. Lots of music and dance all around the city.

Here's a link: www.bcn.cat/merce/en/index.shtml

jubilada

There are several really useful threads about this on the TA Barcelona forum. We are going this year.

ColinTomson

no much time - 23/09/10
ready to go
where are you going to stay at?

By now I have chose around 3 sites to book with them
http://www.pulitzer.tk/
http://www.travelocity.com/Hotels
http://www.rentholid...ntlondon.co.uk/

any impressions?

ColinTomson

sorry...
http://www.pulitzer.tk/
http://www.travelocity.com/Hotels
http://www.rentholidayapartmentlondo...nations/spain/

ColinTomson

Anyone going to?

kelly22904

We arrive in Barcelona on Sept 23. At the time of booking, we had no idea of the festival. We're looking forward to it, but am curious. Does this festival have any effect on the big notable sites of the city? Is it spread out around the city, or confined to the Las Ramblas area?

ColinTomson

As I know is is mostly Las Rabmlas area cituated
About the effects I am not familiar but from other sites and blogs looks really huge
We are going too

Matt

The main effect is that most business (supermarkets, stores) will be closed.

ColinTomson

How come closed if these days will be the best for them ?!
more visitors more customers more money

jubilada

In some cultures commerce isn't everything.

Matt

Let me correct that: they will be closed on Friday 24, the main festivity day, but probably they are open on Saturday.

ColinTomson

Matt, than this makes sense!
Jubilada, I agree with you and event on the workers side it is the right way - they also deserve to celebrate!
but everyone knows that than people are ready to buy more.

michael_n

for me this i the best Festival of Barcelona (every year)

ColinTomson

It became the best and for me!
Thank you everyone!
Looking for next worthy to visit festival!

kimhe

ColinTomson,

A couple of suggestions outside the obvious such as Semana Santa (might very well count as a festival, at least in the South...), Feria de Abril, San Isidro, San Fermín, Tomatina, Fallas etc, etc.

The Crazy 24h Tamborrada festival in San Sebastián in January. The famous gastronomic societies and their bands wander around the old town playing their drums as hell in a huge food and wine party in what is arguably the food capital of Spain:
http://www.donquijote.org/culture/sp...tamborrada.asp
This video from the main square in the Parte vieja says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhncDjXMeQ4

The spring pilgrimage to El Rocío in Almonte in the Huelva region. More than one million people, mostly Spanish, travel from all over the South, and from other cities as well, to take part in this flamenco-style cult-like pilgrimage in homage to the Virgen. Dates back to the 17th century, and reminds you that Godess-worshiping also had a central position in the earlier Mediterranean cultures.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/rocio.htm
http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/english/ed2/rocio.htm
http://www.visithuelva.com/travelgui...pilgrimage.htm

The Wine Festival (Noche del vino) in small Cómpeta, just north-west of Nerja in the Málaga region. All day and all night on the 15th of August every year, celebrating the start of the grape harvest. Cómpeta is well known for its sweet wine, and 5000 litres for free livens up the all day/all night long party with lots of food, performances, folk-groups, flamenco etc.
http://www.andalucia.com/province/ma...mpeta/home.htm
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news...le_12015.shtml