From The Very Hot, To The Very Cool
December 7, 2007
The first is the city’s annual festival in honor of Barcelona’s patron saint, the Virgin de la Merce.
This is a week long celebration in late September characterized by events of all types. Most notable are its parades of giants (the parade consists of huge wooden giants controlled by operators on the ground) and the festival’s regular competition to build the largest human tower. In some cases, the human towers, people standing on top of people, can reach as high as 50 feet.
The festival also includes many sporting events including a swimming competition across the city’s harbour, and, like any good festival, it includes imbibing vast amounts of alcohol such as the Catalonian champagne Cava. The culmination of all the festivals events is the Correfoc. This is the race of fire where devils race through crowded streets while playing with fire, fireworks, and with the people themselves.
The Festes del Merce is a truly hot time to mark the end of the long hot Catalan summer.But Barcelona doesn’t end its festivities with the end of the summer.
As the temperature in the region moves from hot to cool, so does the citys entertainment. Barcelona is well known for its admiration of Jazz and Blues. Its International Jazz Festival is one of the largest, and the longest running, in all of Europe and brings to the city the very coolest of international Jazz and Blues artists.
The festival takes place between October and December of each year and attracts the best musicians from all over the world. In addition to providing an outstanding venue for music, the festival also provides workshops and classes for aspiring Jazz artists and often includes advice or suggestions from some of the top talent at the festival.
Barcelonas festivals are but a few of its principal attractions. The citys location on the Mediterranean Sea, its overall 21st century spirit, and its world-class art and architecture make it a compelling destination for any visitor at any time of the year. In the middle of all the festivities, visitors should make a point not to miss the Picasso Museum, the Joan Miro Park, the imposing Catedral La Seu, the central promenade of La Rambla, and, of course, the waterfront itself.
Of particular note, visitors should be sure to visit the buildings of the revolutionary architect, Antoni Gaudi. Both the Casa Batllo and the Sagrada Familia are spectacular monuments to his unique modernist vision.
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