Calvacada de La Mercè 2023

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Photo by Víctor Parreño Vidiella courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Barcelona has a long tradition of all sorts of solemn and festive processions, offering authentic itinerant displays like the cavalcada de la Mercè, the procession for the city’s festa major.

Gegants (giant figures) provide the central theme for this festive parade. This year's procession starts in Carrer de Pelai at 18:00, heads to Plaça de Catalunya, along La Rambla to Carrer de Ferran, then ends at Plaça de Sant Jaume an hour later followed by a performance from some of its most symbolic and spectacular giants and beasts.

Celebrated September 22-25, 2023, the La Mercè festival program is packed with things to do and see. But if all the festivities of La Mercè get to be a bit too much, why not take a culture break?

Many of the city’s museums observe the holiday with a jornada de portes obertes (open doors). Check out our interactive map with all the locations that are throwing open their doors for free: Map of Barcelona Museums with Free Entry for La Mercè.

For other ideas about how to celebrate La Mercè go to What to Do for La Mercè.