The Fiestas de la Mercè are memory, tradition, identity, and spectacle. Since 1871, when the Virgin of Mercy was officially proclaimed patron saint of the city, every September 24--and the days surrounding it--Barcelona is transformed into a mosaic of popular culture, music, fire, dance, and shared emotion. In this book, historian César Alcalá invites us to explore the history and evolution of one of the most emblematic celebrations in the Catalan capital. From its religious origins to its current civic and festive dimension, Las fiestas de la Mercè traces an entertaining and well-documented journey that allows us to understand why this festival continues to be a mirror of what Barcelona is--and wants to be.
