Best places to celebrate Sant Jordi 2023 in Catalonia
Along with stalls selling books and roses, a range of cultural activities are organized for April 23
There is perhaps no better day to wander around the streets of Barcelona than Sant Jordi, Catalan for Saint George, the vibrant festival of books and roses celebrated every year on April 23.
For Catalans, it is the most romantic day of the year, leaving Valentine's Day barely acknowledged. The streets are filled with stalls selling books and roses, with thousands of people out and about enjoying the day, meeting their favorite authors, and buying gifts.
Events will taking place across all major cities and towns in Catalonia, here's a breakdown of some of the best ways to enjoy Sant Jordi.
Barcelona
The Catalan capital will see the 'literary superblock' project repeated this year, with even more space given to stalls. The concept in past years has seen a huge area of the city center pedestrianized for the special day, and this plan will be repeated in 2023.
La Rambla boulevard will also come into the plans this year, with book and flower stalls to be set up along the street that is also one of Catalonia's biggest tourist attractions. The lower part of Carrer Gran de Gràcia will also be a part of the literary superblock on the day, as it expands its space by about 10%.
The Book Chamber association estimates that the almost 300 book stalls seen last year will be surpassed this time round, as registrations from booksellers are moving at a good pace, and for the fact that more space will be available. Last year also saw around 80 florists set up stalls on the sides of streets.
Sunday will also be the perfect day to visit many iconic spots in the city. Antoni Gaudí's Casa Batlló is always a magnificent sight, 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 will open 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.
Girona
In northern Catalonia, the pandemic saw Sant Jordi celebrations move from the tightly-packed city center out to the more open and airy La Copa park. This year there will be 31 stalls selling books and roses, and another 88 stalls of various organizations.
There will also be 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 in the neighborhood of Sant Narcís.
Tarragona
In the south of the territory, some 137 stalls will be set up in the city's Rambla Nova, stretching from the Roger de Llúria monument to the Font del Centenari from 9 am to 9 pm.
Among the cultural activities planned are the second edition of the Quiet Reading Space in El Quiosquet, traditional 'Sardana' dancing in Plaça Verdaguer at 7 pm, and 'castellers' human towers by four groups from the city on Rambla Nova. In addition, free concerts will be going on all day at Escaleras Colegio Teresianas.
Lleida
To the west, Lleida's central celebration point will be happening on Rambla de Ferran, stretching into Avinguda Francesc Macià. There, book and rose sellers will be found, while in Plaça Sant Joan various stalls of cultural and social entities, charitable associations, and educational centers will be set up for the day.
Rambla Ferran will also see different cultural activities planned, with writers and authors taking center stage. Various talks will start at 11.30 am on an array of topics, from psychogeography, democracy, poetry recitals, as well as 'Sardanas'.