What to Do for Sant Jordi’s Day

There are so many ways to celebrate Sant Jordi in Barcelona. Of course, you can’t miss a stroll among the rows and rows of book sellers and rose vendors that fill the streets of the literary superblock which stretches from Avinguda Diagonal to Gran Via and Balmes to Pau Claris as well as along La Rambla and Gran de Gràcia. There you can meet a number of Catalan and Spanish authors and even get your books signed.

When you’ve had your fill of books and roses you can catch a film at the BCN Film Fest, check out the Sant Jordi Musica at Antiga Fàbrica Damm, see the traditional sardana dance at Plaça Sant Jaume or enjoy free entry to a number of museums as well as historical buildings that are normally closed to the public. Here’s a list of the participating institutions this year.

Map of Open Doors for Sant Jordi

• Barcelona City Hall, photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona.

  Ajuntament de Barcelona

  Barcelona’s City Hall celebrates Sant Jordi with an open house on April 21st from 10:00 to 20:00. Visit the Escala Negra, the Capella del Bon Consell, the Saló de Cròniques, the Saló del Bon Govern, the Sala del Treball, the mayor’s offices, the Saló de Carles Pi i Sunyer, the Saló de Cent, the Saló del Consolat de Mar, the Sala Tàpies, the Saló de Carles III, the Saló de la Ciutat, the Galeria Gòtica and the Escala d’Honor as well as the the Mirador Maria Aurèlia Capmany, the ninth-floor vantage point in the Novíssim Building (entry via Plaça de Sant Miquel). The tour of the building begins at the door on Carrer de la Ciutat (Gothic façade) and, to liven things up, several historical characters will be greeting visitors in the City Hall's noble chambers. Visitors can also access the Mirador Maria Aurèlia Capmany, the ninth-floor viewing deck in the Novíssim Building via Plaça Sant Miquel. For the little ones there's a puppet show, En Patufet, and a puppet workshop where children can make and personalize their own Sant Jordi knight puppet. There are four performances at 11:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 17:00.

• Ateneu Barcelonès, photo by Pepe Navarro courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

  Ateneu Barcelonès

  Visit Palau Savassona, home of the Ateneu Barcelona: the Library, the Pompeu Fabra room, the Oriol Bohigas function room, the conversation rooms and the garden. Free entry on April 23rd from 11:00 to 20:00.

• Entrance to the Biblioteca de Catalunya, photo by Antonio Lajusticia Bueno courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

  Biblioteca de Catalunya

  The national library opens its doors to everyone between 10:00 and 18:30 on Sant Jordi’s Day to showcase some of the rich and valuable collections it guards. You can visit the library on a self-guided tour or join a group with a guide who explains the history, functions, collections and services. Guided tours leave every 10 minutes, between 10:00 and 18:30. No reservation is necessary.

• Window detail of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

  Centre Excursionista de Catalunya

  Center Excursionista de Catalunya opens its doors to celebrate Sant Jordi's Day on April 23rd from 10:30 to 13:00. Go on a guided tour to learn the art and history that is hidden within its walls, from the four Roman columns of the Temple of Augustus and the Renaissance figures, to paintings by Miró. It's a cultural journey from Roman Barcelona to today's society. Visits are in Catlan and last thirty minutes, starting at 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 and 12.30. Advance registration is required on the center's website. cec.cat/sant-jordi-2024

• Photo courtesy of Fundació Photographic Social Vision.

  Fundació Photographic Social Vision

  Fundació Photographic Social Vision opens its doors in its headquarters in Villa Alegre on Sant Jordi’s Day. The patio will be host its second edition of the photobook fair, with exhibitions and presentations of works by renowned artists and to top it off there will be a vermouth and book signing from 13:00 to 14:00. Open April 23rd, 11:00-20:00.

• The Institut d’Estudis Catalans is located in the Casa de Convalescència. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

  Institut d’Estudis Catalans

  Housed in the Casa Convalescència, a beautiful 17th-century building that was used by patients from the neighboring Hospital de la Santa Creu, the Institut d'Estudis Catalans (IEC) is a private cultural institution dedicated to research into different components of Catalan culture. Open 10:00-14:00 on April 23rd, you can visit the most prominent corners of the Convalescent Home, such as the Prat de la Riba room, the Puig i Cadafalch room, the chapel and the Mercè Rodoreda garden.

• Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

  Museu d'Història de Catalunya

  Free entry to the museum's exhibits La memòria d’un país and Una altra història from on April 23rd 10:00 to 19:00.

• Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya

  Located in Montjuïc Park the museum contains a whole series of archaeological objects and documents ranging from prehistory to the middle ages. Free access to the museum and the exhibits from 9:30 to 19:00 on April 23rd. Reserve your tickets online on the museum website.

• Palau Güell. Photo by Tara Shain.

  Palau Güell

  Palau Güell was the first important commission that Antoni Gaudí had, and he began it in 1886 for the textile businessman Eusebi Güell. It is one of the most emblematic buildings of Barcelona and you can take advantage of the open day on April 23rd from 10:00 to 20:00 to discover this work belonging to the architect's orientalist stage. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance via the Palau’s website. (Tickets available starting April 19, 2024.)

• The figure of Sant Jordi sits atop a fountain in the Pati dels Tarongers in the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcleona. Photo courtesy of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Public Domain via Flickr.

  Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya

  The institutional and monumental spaces of the seat of the Government of the Generalitat of Catalunya celebrates Sant Jordi’s Day with an open house on April 20th and 21st from 11:00 to 19:00 and on April 23rd from 12:00 to 20:00. The visit begins on the ground floor of the Palace where you can see the Sala Clavé, the Press Room and the Auditorium. On the noble floor, Sala Tàpies, Sala Torres García, Sala del Govern, Chapel of Sant Jordi, Sacristy and Saló de Sant Jordi as well as the open spaces of the Pati dels Tarongers, Gothic Gallery, Gothic staircase and the Gothic courtyard. The visit begins at the entrance at Carrer de Sant Sever. On the 23rd there will also be carillon performances at 13:00 and 18:00. Reservations can be made online at: presidencia.gencat.cat

• Pavelló Mies van der Rohe, photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

  Pavelló Mies van der Rohe

  From 10:00 to 20:00 on April 23rd you can tour the grounds of the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe and explore the reading pavilion where there will be a book stand and space for reading.

• Image courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona.

  Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau

  This jewel of modernista architecture is hosting an open house for Sant Jordi’s Day on April 23rd from 9:30 to 18:30. You can explore the grounds and several of the emblematic buildings and discover the references to the legend of Sant Jordi that are hidden in different corners of the old hospital. There will be live music from 11:00 to 14:00 and a book stand where you will find the latest literary novelties and a wide selection of titles on modernism, architecture and the history of the Hospital de la Santa Creu and Sant Pau. Capacity is limited so tickets must be reserved in advance on the Sant Pau website.