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Tomorrow is Sant Jordi (Saint Georges), the Patron Saint of Catalonia, and although it is not a holiday, it is a day for celebration in Barcelona.
It also the Book´s day, a tradition originated here which has been exported to other countries, including Japan. In 1996, the UNESCO declared the 23rd of April as the International Book´s Day. Most new titles are launched tomorrow, books are sold in the streets and well established writers will sign their books at the main bookshops. Streets will be packed with people and you will see many Catalan flags decorating stalls, buses, balconies or in window displays.
Additionally, it is the day of the rose in which gentlemen offer red roses to ladies. Roses are sold in the streets and many organisations take advantage of this day to raise some money by selling them. They are also offered by bookshops and other shops. Do you want to impress somebody with a virtual rose? This option is available from several websites of catalan organisations and media. This is the one of La Vanguardia, the main newspaper published in Barcelona http://rosa.lavanguardia.es/.
The Palau de la Generalitat, the siege of the Catalan Government at the Plaça Sant Jaume, in the old town, will be open to the public. Behind the neoclassical façade you will be able to discover parts of the building dating back to the XVth century.
It will be a great spring day!!!
Today I realized that tomorrow is Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos), a movable Christian feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday, just before the Holy Week (Semana Santa). Palms were on sale at a street market situated at the Rambla Catalunya with c/Diputació. The palms are leaves of palm trees which grow tied and protected from sunlight. Thus they don´t turn green and are very flexible. Palms for girls are not too big and are braided into different designs. The small braided palm leaves are worn on the lapel. Bay leaf branches are also used, mainly by adults. Although in Spain religion is losing ground, tomorrow you may encounter special ceremonies inside or outside most churches, which often include short processions. Many people still take their families to church on this date because for many of us, this tradition is part of our childhood memories.
The drawings by Picasso decorating the façade of the building which is the siège of the Association of Architects of Catalonia, at the Plaça Catedral, reproduce, among other subjects, the traditions of palm sunday.
This morning I visited the old books market which takes place every Sunday morning around the building of the Sant Antoni Market. They sell books, comics, magazines, DVDs and music. Although most titles are in Spanish it is worth a visit.
The market of Sant Antoni is an old building which is part of the network of municipal markets dating back to the XIX century. At present, it is closed for renovation. On weekdays you won´t find books but there are many small shops in the area and you will get to know the life of this popular neighbourhood away from the tourist crowds.
It is located where the Eixample and Raval neighbourhoods meet and you can get there from the Ramblas walking through the narrow streets of the Raval. Close to the market, at Carrer Compte de Borrell 68, there is a small hotel with a nice restaurant called MARKET. It offers a stylish decoration and moderate prices.
Mercat de Sant Antoni is located at Ronda de Sant Pau with Ronda de Sant Antoni.
Metro: Sant Antoni, Line 2 (Purple). You can also walk there from the Metro Universidad (Red line)
www.markethotel.com.es
