Light and tradition for Santa Eulàlia
From 10 to 12 February, the city celebrates its Winter Festa Major with a programme of traditional events alongside the innovation and new technologies of the Llum BCN urban lighting festival, which will light up the courtyards and squares of Barcelona.
On Friday, Barcelona kicks off the celebrations of the Santa Eulàlia Festivities, co-patron saint of the city, the star of which is popular culture rooted in tradition. Also as part of the Winter Festa Major is the sixth edition of Llum BCN, the leading urban lighting festival, starring new technologies, innovation and light.
The Santa Eulàlia 2017 Festivities feature two new highlights: visitors will be able to see an artistic illumination at the “Les Laies” exhibition, in the courtyard of the Palau de la Virreina (by Josep Maria Civit, acclaimed director of photography), and El Born CCM will be a new nerve centre for the Llum BCN festival.
Over three afternoons and evenings, Llum BCN will fill courtyards and squares in Ciutat Vella with 24 light installations created by schools and recognised professionals in the field of design. Thirteen courtyards of palaces and buildings, such as the Fossar de les Moreres, will be transformed for the occasion. To visit them, we suggest three different itineraries: Born – Montcada, Cathedral – Sea and Virreina – Rambla. There will also be ten light shows at different sites in Ciutat Vella, the work of creators and design professionals.
At 7 pm on Friday 12, tradition and light will welcome the Santa Eulàlia festivities at Plaça de Sant Jaume. Here, visitors can see the screening of Colorama, by the Playmodes company, which can also be seen on the evenings of the 11th and 12th, followed by the Protocols de l’Àliga de la Ciutat (the City Eagle Protocols), a street procession that sets off from Plaça de Sant Jaume and culminates in one of the most solemn events of the festivities: the traditional Ball de l’Àliga (Dance of the Eagle) inside the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar.
The Moll de la Fusta will be hosting La Lali Jove, Barcelona's children's and association's Festa Major. Sunday at 11 am sees the winter festivities' human castle festival, while for the fifth year running, the Esbart Ciutat Comtal dance troupe will be presenting Eulàlia, a music and dance show that will be performed inside the cathedral, as well as other planned events featuring popular culture as the protagonist.
Also, between 11 and 14 February, the city's museums will be joining in the celebrations with open-door days offering a great number of exhibitions, workshops, talks, performances and other activities for young and old alike.
You can consult the full Santa Eulàlia and Llum BCN programme at this link.