Just off La Rambla in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, Plaça Reial is one of Barcelona’s most iconic public spaces. Palm trees, graceful neoclassical arcades, and ornate lampposts frame a lively scene of cafés, music, and street performers.
La Mercè is Barcelona’s largest annual festival, celebrated around September 24th in honor of the city’s patron saint, Our Lady of Mercy (La Mare de Déu de la Mercè). First officially recognized in 1871, this week-long celebration transforms the city into a grand stage for Catalan culture, with street parades, concerts, traditional dances, castellers, and fireworks.