As Setmana Santa (Easter week) approaches, the city’s pastisseríes fill up with monas de Pasqua, marking a delicious end to the abstinence of the last 40 days and symbolising the start of spring. Dating back to the 15th century, this traditional cake originally took the form of a large doughnut-shaped brioche topped with hard-boiled eggs—those saved until the end of Lent when Christians could again consume meat and eggs. Nowadays, the hard-boiled eggs have been replaced by the chocolate variety, and monas come in all shapes and sizes, extravagantly decorated with chocolate glaze, almonds, colourful feathers, popular cartoon characters and Barça players.
Although the simple sponge cake has evolved into an intricate chocolate sculpture, there are aspects of the annual ritual which haven’t changed. As custom dictates, godparents still give monas to their godchildren on Easter Sunday, to be eaten on Easter Monday, or el Día de la Mona, as it is referred to locally. The number of eggs displayed on the cake depends on the age of the child, though a mona will never have fewer than two or more than 12. Each year, bakeries compete to create the most elaborate cakes. Whether you want to marvel at the window displays or get your hands on an exquisite chocolate creation, here’s our top pick of places to indulge:
One of Barcelona’s oldest pastisseríes, Foix de Sarrià artfully fuses tradition with innovation. Here you’ll find everything from the classic cake to the more inventive chocolate sculpture. Personalised monas are also available upon request. Major de Sarrià 57.
Started by pastry chef Christian Escribà, renowned for his extravagant sweet treats, this pastissería is famous for its Willy Wonka-esque window displays around Easter time, featuring life-size figurines, exploding cakes and more. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 546.
Offering a unique twist on traditional confection, this Japanese bakery sells a variety of monas with elegant Japanese flavours. Comte d’Urgell 110.
