Exhibition of Dragons and Fire Beasts—La Mercè 2023

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Fire beasts are some of the most diverse festive elements in Barcelona and include figures of wyverns, dragons, pigs and sows, gargoyles, elves, polecats and little dragons of all types. This exhibition brings them all together at El Born CCM

As part of the festivities for La Mercè, the beasts that appear in Barcelona’s neighborhood festivals are invited to the Born Centre for Culture and Memory, which will host them for one week so everyone can see them at rest before it's time for them to dance in the Beasts’ Parade. The Tiger Mosquito of Can Baró, the Pig of El Clot, the Horned Dragon of Horta – El Carmel, the Ca Cèrber Bretolàs (a three-headed beast) of Sant Andreu, the Bocs Aeris of Can Rosés, the She-dragon Meri of La Guineueta, the Dragon Pitus of Sants and more!

These fire beasts come from all the city's districts, and they often symbolize a particular feature or outstanding event from each one. For example, the Pig of El Clot was made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the neighborhood's charcuterie, the Cat Sírius of Poble-sec was made to honor the celebrated Font del Gat (Cat Fountain), and the Sprite Nébula of La Trinitat Vella, a forest sprite, was created to call for the protection of nature in a nearby neighborhood on Collserola mountain.

The diverse list of fire beasts will make the sparks fly in the passacaglias and folk dances, get to know them up close at the Born Centre for Culture and Memory before the festivities begin. The Exhibition of Dragons and Fire Beasts will amaze you. 

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.