We do believe that September is the best month to travel, not only because the weather is calmer and more pleasant without the scorching sun, but also because it is the less touristy month for most of the beautiful cities, which means that you can enjoy the less crowded streets of your favorite city and enjoy the autumn month in peace and tranquility. Today we are going to explore Barcelona in autumn and discover the biggest festival that takes place during this month that is emblematic of the enchanting city of Barcelona.
La Mercè is Barcelona's biggest festival that takes place in the last weeks of September. It is a week-long festival that is observed after Spain returns from its summer holidays. Indeed, there are festivals all year round in Spain that show the joy and happiness of the locals and the culture. Originally, the festival has a religious origin in the Catholic Church sine the middle ages where the people celebrated the Virgin of Mercy or the Verde de la Mercè, who is the patron saint of Barcelona. Nevertheless, the festival has evolved over time and at present it does not have many religious connotations. At present, La Mercè is a fiesta that takes place in different districts of Barcelona and comes down to one big La Mercè festival.
La Mercè is not a single festival, but rather a combination of small festivals throughout the city of Barcelona that make up one big festival. Among the major festivals and events that take place during La Mercè and the must-see are, foremost, the BAM festival, which is the music festival of La Mercè. The BAM festival is the part of La Mercè where many concerts, musicals and live music shows take place throughout the city. Then there is the MAC festival, where dance, theater, street arts and cultural performances are presented. The most attractive features that take place during La Mercè are the giant procession where people dress up as giants representing kings and queens and make a parade through the streets of the city presenting spectacular shows.
Another striking element is the carrefoc, which is the fireworks demonstration by people in the street. People dressed as devils holding fireworks while running in the street and a giant dragon bursting into fireworks are the emblematic shows of La Mercè. One of the most iconic performances is that of the castellers, which are the human towers displayed in the different streets where men and women as well as children stand on top of each other and form high towers, it is truly an amazing sight to see. The four-day magical festival ends with the piromusical, which is the sound and light show organized in Montjuic, where there are also grand displays of fireworks. The city is truly transformed into a stage for many spectacular shows and events, ranging from musicals to concerts, intriguing light shows, parades that enchant you to human towers that show the power of human endeavour.
The Festival of La Mercè is not only a festival that brings a community together to cherish its culture, but it is also an opportunity to strengthen ties with other cultures. Each year, a country is invited to participate in La Mercè to join cultures together. La Mercè takes place after schools and universities reopen for a new academic session in September. The festival is an opportunity for young adults to socialize with their classmates, and as such, the festival plays a much more prominent role in the lives of the people of Barcelona than just an annual festival. In addition, it is the best time to visit Barcelona's places of interest and monuments, as the week of La Mercè is free of charge for most of Barcelona's tourist attractions.
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