St George´s Day (Sant Jordi 2018) - Barcelona popular festivals
Sant Jordi or Saint Jorge´s day is much more than just a festival event in Barcelona. It's the Catalan equivalent to Valentine's Day, Every year, the streets of the city are filled with people walking through mythical places in the city among street markets with books and roses wrapped in ribbons with the colors of the Catalonia flag ( La Senyera). Celebrating one of the most important festivals in Catalonia since 1456, in which it is customary to give a rose to women as a symbol of love and a book for men. On April 23 it is celebrated the Day of the book, a day commemorating the death of two great writers of the history of literature: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare.
The legend of Sant Jordi
The history of Sant Jordi is the same that is known around the world. Saint George was a hero - he saved a beautiful princess from the hands of a dragon that had been terrorizing a town. There are several versions of the story, but these facts always remain the same. Sant Jordi is the Patron of Catalonia and his story is well known throughout the city.
What to do in Barcelona in Saint´s Jeorge day
If you visit Barcelona in this event we recommend visiting the famous Ramblas and Plaza Sant Jaume where From 15:00 to 20:00 there will be Sardana dancing. The Sardana is a traditional Catalan folk dance, other Barcelona attractions is Passeig de Gracia Avenue where is the Casa Batllo (Popular modernist building of the architect Antonio Gaudí) For this festival in Barcelona the Casa Batllo dresses with the colors of Catalonia and decorates its facade with roses, since the building is the representation of the dragon and the hero, For this day the visit is different from the other years of the day as its interior decoration is also decorated for this event, if you travel with your partner, do not hesitate to immortalize this moment in the last balcony of the facade from where you can take a photo for your memory,
Also this Barcelona sights that are the more popular in this day we recommend you visit some other tourist attractions in Barcelona such as:
- Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya (Plaça de Sant Jaume)
- Barcelona City Council (Plaça de Sant Jaume)
- Palau Güell (Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5)
- Sant Pau Hospital Modernist Enclosure (Carrer de Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 167)
- National Library of Catalonia (Carrer de l'Hospital, 56)
- Ateneu Barcelonés (Carrer de la Canuda, 6)
And even more, since the rest of Barcelona's top attractions are added to the previous list. Visit the Sagrada Familia, climb by cable car to the mountain of Montjuïc, a ride in Golondrina by the port, visit the Pedrera (Gaudí building) or the FC Barcelona Museum, you can visit all this sights with our tours our you can take good ideas on the website of the City Council you will also find special proposals for Sant Jordi 2018.