| When it comes to city breaks, Barcelona is a popular | | | | Visitors can also enjoy the Barcelona Street Arts |
| destination - and this is especially the case in | | | | initiative and take in a host of performances while |
| September, when millions of people descend on the | | | | out and about in the city, as well as view spectacular |
| Spanish metropolis for the Festes de la Merce. The | | | | aerial acrobatics involving balloons and jets. In addition |
| annual festival dates back more than a century and | | | | to the Festes de la Merce, holidaymakers might want |
| takes place over the course of a week, offering | | | | to take the opportunity to see Barcelona's amazing |
| hundreds of different cultural events and activities in | | | | array of sights and attractions. |
| the process. | | | | There are so many that it can be something of a |
| It began in 1902, several years after the Pope | | | | struggle to list them all - never mind see them in the |
| named the Virgin of La Merce the patron saint of | | | | space of a few days - but the main ones include |
| Barcelona. Since then, the Festes de la Merce has | | | | Plaza de Catalunya, the Gothic Quarter, the San |
| drawn crowds of spectators every year keen to see | | | | Sebastian tower, the Picasso Museum and the |
| the festival's famous religious and cultural street | | | | various examples of wonderful architecture designed |
| parades. | | | | by Gaudi. Other highlights include Barcelona's many |
| It has expanded over the decades to encompass a | | | | tapas bars, some fantastic shopping and the chance |
| wide range of arts disciplines, with exhibitions and | | | | to simply lie back and relax on the beach. |
| performances relating to dance, the theatre, music | | | | Because the Festes de la Merce attracts up to two |
| and art among those taking place across the city. | | | | million people each year, it might be worth looking |
| The Festes de la Merce includes several mini-festivals, | | | | into Barcelona hotels as soon as you can to avoid |
| such as the Barcelona Accio Musical - or Barcelona | | | | disappointment. If you do manage to secure |
| Musical Action - event promoting new music and the | | | | accommodation for the festival, you can be sure |
| Fire Festival. | | | | you'll have a fantastic holiday that you'll never forget. |