Street art

Gràcia is in the throes of its 2009 festa major. Below we give you five facts about the annual event and feature a slideshow of photos from this year's festival

1. Historians can’t quite decide whether the Gràcia festes celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15th) or Sant Roc (16th); previously, the patron of Gràcia was Sant Isidre, whose saint’s day is May 15th.

2. Some parts of Gràcia celebrate their festa major between September 8th and 11th (including Vallcarca, La Salut and the Carrer del Argentona).

3. This year’s edition is dedicated to Nova canço, the anti-Franco musical movement that was born in Catalunya in the Fifties.

4. In 1942, 70 streets and five squares were decorated; by 1977, the number had fallen to under five.

5. Last year, as well as streets, 29 balconies and entryways were decorated, while prizes were awarded for recycling material, lighting and artistic detail, as well as the more traditional honours.


Festa Major de Gràcia 2009
August 15th to 21st
www.festamajordegracia.cat