Catalans take to the streets en masse to delight in Sant Jordi festivities

The day everyone in Catalonia has been waiting for is here: Sant Jordi!

And as is the case every year barring the height of the pandemic, there are already thousands of book and rose stalls lining the streets in Barcelona and other cities and towns on what can only be described as Catalonia's take on Valentine's. 

After last year's rainstorms following two pandemic-stunted Sant Jordis, this year there are even more people out and about, but also more stalls, more books, and more book signings, with publishing houses expecting to make €22.5 million and florists aiming to sell 6 million roses. 

Barcelona's 'literary superblock'

The Catalan capital is once again home to a 'literary superblock' of pedestrianized streets in the city center that give way to book and rose vendors. 

All in all, there are 320 book stalls, 11.5% more than last year, mainly on the lower part of Gran de Gràcia street, Rambla de Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia boulevards and neighboring streets, as well as La Rambla boulevard, Plaça Reial square, and Passeig de Sant Joan and Passeig Lluís Companys boulevards. 

Sunday is also the perfect day to visit many iconic spots in the city. Antoni Gaudí's Casa Batlló is decorated with hundreds of roses, while plenty of other spaces such as the modernist Hospital de Sant Pau, the Barcelona city hall, and the Mies van der Rohe pavillion that have opened their doors to the public for free. 

If your name is Jordi, Jordina, or any international equivalent (George or Georgina in English, for example) you can also visit the Sagrada Família for free.

Sant Jordi across Catalonia

The day of books and roses honoring Catalonia's patron saint is, of course, being celebrated all over the territory (and beyond!). 

In Tarragona stalls have been set up mainly on the city's Rambla Nova boulevard. Among the cultural activities planned are traditional 'Sardana' dancing in Plaça Verdaguer at 7 pm, and 'castellers' human towers by four groups from the city on Rambla Nova. 

In Lleida stalls are largely concentrated on Avingunda Francesc Macià avenue and Rambla de Ferran boulevard. Various talks will start at 11.30 am on Rambla de Ferran on an array of topics, from psychogeography, democracy, poetry recitals, as well as 'Sardanas'.

In the northern city of Girona, most stalls are in la Copa park. There are also plenty of children's activities scheduled for Rambla de la Llibertat, traditional 'Sardana' dancing in Plaça de la Independència, and a market selling books, roses, magazines, CDs, vinyl records and more in Plaça de l'Assumpció.