Festival in Barcelona-La Merce
 

Have found out this festival will take place while we are in Barcelona...can anyone tell me what to expect? Do people come to Barcelona just to attend this festival or is it a more local event? Thanks.

Check out this article from Travel Intelligence:

http://www.travelintelligence.net/ws...s/art_664.html

Last year we unwittingly arrived in Barcelona for the culmination of the feast of la Merce. The last day was a holiday when the entire town milled about the old city. We saw fireworks, numerous parades featuring "gigantes", dancing, etc., etc. It did make it hard to get into restaurants. Make sure to get a schedule of the events from an information booth when you arrive.

Heading for Barcelona in May---what are the dates for this ferstival????

MaggieOB - May is past, You are probably back from your trip. La Merce is Sept 24.

Canuckuphereathome - there is another recent thread on Fodors about this same festival. I had so much trouble finding out about Carnival and La Festas de Santa Eulalia before our February trip. But I gained experience and was able to track down some pretty useful stuff about La Merce earlier today. I'm copying and pasting because I hate to type the same thing twice:

24 September is La Mercè Day

La Mercè celebrates The Virgin of Mercy (la Verge de la Mercè). I have searched around and found that Castellers will begin on Sept 24 in Plaça Sant Jaume at 12:30.

Most of the activities will take place in the Barri Gotic, which is the medieval heart of the city. There will also be a second hand book fair on Passeig de Gràcia and an exhibition of Barcelona's cuisine on Avinguda Gaudí. At night you will be able to witness the corrofoc, an amazing celebration of demons and light. You will be able to see dancing giants and watch the Sardana.

Lucky, lucky you if you are in Barcelona for La Mercè!

You might want to read the first part of my super-duper long trip report... which is still not finished, by the way. Ray and I were in Barcelona for the Festas de Santa Eulàlia and Carnival this past February. My trip report gives a good idea of what you would be able to see and experience during La Mercè. Many of the same sort of activities will take place during La Mercè. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34483366

For another jumping off point you can check out http://www.bcn.es/festes/angles.htm. (This page is in English... then you will undoubtably trip across other pages in Catalan.) I found it very difficult to find solid information about Carnival and the feast of Santa Eulàlia before our trip. And the site I am sending you to will be only somewhat helpful.

A bit more info...http://www.virtourist.com/europe/barcelona/44.htm then click "Next" to view the next two pages about La Mercè.

Here's someone else's trip report http://www.grammarian.com/pyrotechnic/ This is an excellent 4-page trip report La Mercè in 1995.

What are your trip dates? and, please post back here if you find a truly useful site with an entire schedule in English or Spanish.

When you are in Barcelona, you can stop into the Cultural Center or Tourist Info desk to pick up a guide. A local paper would also provide a good source of information and shedule of events. The Carnival guide we picked up was only available in Catalan. Someone at the Cultural Center or the Tourist Info will speak some English and can perhaps help you with the schedule of events.

In our case, we were very fortunate indeed to take in so many of the activities. It was special, indeed.

The link to this other posting is http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34506929.

- Sharon