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by Bartek Molga
Fiesta de Gracia
Fiestas de Gracia 2008
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Fiestas of Gracia 09
Carrer Verdi has been transformed into a medieval setting and is the winner of the prize for the best street at this year's festival.3 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
Medieval flute player entertaining visitors to Carrer Verdi4 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
As well as decorations, there is also a medieval market5 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
Another Gràcia street decorated with lights and colour6 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
Colourful lights convert this street into something special for the week-long Gràcia festival7 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
On this 'Hansel and Gretel' themed street, Carrer Joan Blanques de Baix, you can see a house made of gingerbread and sweets.8 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
'Alice in Wonderland' themed street9 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
Another photo of the 'Alice in Wonderland' street10 of 10
Fiestas of Gracia 09
This street, Carrer Tordera, is decorated like a tram, and visitors can take a seat and have something to eat. It won the prize for the second-best street decoration.If you have any photos of this year's Gràcia festival, please send them to: info@barcelona-metropolitan.comGràcia 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