Sant Pau Art Noveau Site Free Entry for La Mercè

×

Expand

Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, photo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

As part of Barcelona's La Mercè festivities, the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau will host an open day with free admission, family-friendly activities and heritage outreach initiatives.

This edition forms part of the celebrations marking the 625th anniversary of the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, coinciding with Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026, and will focus on the restoration of the Modernist pavilions. A temporary exhibition will showcase the key architectural interventions, the technical teams involved, the investment required and the adaptation of the buildings to their new uses.

The auditoriums will screen audiovisual presentations on the institution's history and anniversary, together with testimonies from the architects who led the restoration, construction timelapses, original drawings and before-and-after photographs documenting the transformation of the site.

Attendance is limited so advance registration is required.

What to Do for La Mercè

Celebrated in the days surrounding September 24th, the La Mercè festival program is packed with things to do and see. From parades and exhibits filled with gegants (giants), capgrossos (bigheads) and fire-breathing beasts to giant castells (human towers), traditional dances, correfocs (fire runs), drone light shows, fireworks displays and free concerts, you're sure to find something to delight and amaze you.

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). To make the most of your time, take a look at 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.

See our Guide to La Mercè for a list of the festival's events and discover the story behind one of the biggest celebrations on Barcelona's calendar and the many traditions that make this beloved Catalan holiday so special.

For more events during the Festes de la Mercè check our online events calendar.