Rent City Apartments envites you to celebrate with us La Merce Festival that will take place the week of September 24th, one of the largest streets parties in the city! La Merce Fesitval lasts for about 3 days, and it held in honor of the Mare de Deu de la Merce, the Patron Saint of Barcelona.
History: September 24th 1218 La Mare de Deu "God´s mother" showed herself to the king Jaume I, Saint Peter and Saint Ramon de Penyafort. She asked the three of them to create a new order of monks to dedicate their lives to christian´s prisoners during war times. One hundreds years past by until until in 1687 Barcelona had a plague and its people prayed to Mare de Deu de la Merce to abolish this plague. The Pope was not content with this action until 1868.
Origin: Pope Pius IX declared La Mare de Deu de la Merce the saint of Barcelona. At this moment the celebration of La Mare de Deu de la Merce started to take place during the month of September in 1902 under Francesc Cambo´s Fiesta Major. This party will mark the beginning of La Merce Festival in Catalunya.
La Merce Festival was held for the first time in 1902 to welcome the cooler months of autumm. There are hundreds of activities during La Merce Festival week. Enjoy the amazing human towers or "Castells" are a must see. They rise as ten stories high. You will be amazed by the teamwork, agility and balance.
One of the most extraordinary celebrations of fire takes place during La Merce Festival called the "Correfoc" - Fire Run - where customed fire-breathing devils rampange around the streets in a colourful pyrothecnics display.
We encourage you to bring you family to discover devils chase games, procession at the Plaza Real next to Las Ramblas. If you are a wine lover you will enjoy the local produced wines every where in town, where you can buy the best that Catalunya has to offer.
La Merce Festival celebrates the sky with static hot air ballons, kites and many other fantastic exibitions throughout the city beaches and center.
Scheduled Activities
September 17th, Cursa de La Merce: take a little time to run this race and be part of La Merce Festival. Click below for more information.
September 22 at 19:00 at the Ajuntament: The celebration begins with a prayer to La Merce, a parade of dragons, beasts, giants, devils, fireworks, sardanes, and expositions around the city center.
For more information click here
