April 23, International Book Day, is a very special day in Catalonia. Whoever has been lucky enough to be during this holiday knows it. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a weekday or if it rains, in the end you enjoy it the same: the aroma and color of the roses spreads through the streets where the book stalls are placed, in front of which there are long lines to get the signature of the writers who present their copies. People come and go at all hours, they want to go out and enjoy themselves.
In Barcelona they live it big; Passeig de Gràcia becomes a pedestrian zone to accommodate everyone, and huge roses decorate the façade of Casa Batlló, making it the best decoration to immortalize that day. So all you have to do is enjoy and these are some of the proposals that we liked the most.
Flores Navarro, an emblematic florist in the city that opens from Monday to Sunday, this year is betting on the red rose as a gift, but without ceasing to offer other colors whose symbolism reveals us: red represents the strength of love and is ideal for As a gift to your partner or a loved one, yellow not only symbolizes the power of friendship, it is also joy; The blue rose is perfect to give to someone we are getting to know; and white means purity, perfect to show our eternal, sincere, real bond.
A new edition of Estrella Damm’s Sant Jordi Musical is coming with the best musical performances on the Catalan artistic scene: Figa Flawas, La Fúmiga, Els Amics de les Arts, Scorpio, Lildami and Triquell are some of the groups that will participate. The old factory will open its doors from 12 to 9 p.m., and in addition to music it will have a varied gastronomic offer and a market of books, vinyl, roses and other items with the theme of Sant Jordi, the latter, with a charitable purpose.
The museum’s headquarters are located in the Palau del Mar, in the Barceloneta neighborhood, which had been the old General Stores of Commerce, the only preserved building from the old port of Barcelona that dates back to 1881. Inside, a An authentic journey through time through the history of Catalonia, from prehistory to the present day, and it is shown in an interactive and very enjoyable way, perfect for going with children. And at the end, it is worth going up to the roof, where you will find Restaurant 1881 and the Indians terrace with views of the marina.
El Tendiez Cocktail
Instead of the traditional flower, clients who come to try some of the gastronomic proposals or the Afternoon Tea at the Palace will receive a very special rose in the form of a hand-woven solidarity bracelet, the Candela Bracelets, the profits of which will go to research. of childhood cancer. In addition to the bracelet, clients staying at the hotel will find in their room a rose from the Obra Social Sant Joan de Déu, which takes care of people and families in vulnerable situations.
Also that day, Pilarín Bayés, who, although she does not have a new book in 2024, will sign copies from past years, at the Palace Suite by Josephine Baker, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Poetic Gest is an ephemeral work created by Fabricio Giordano together with his Florestudio team, which pays tribute to the paper book in the era of digitalization and to the fleeting beauty of the rose that, although ephemeral, lasts in the memory. For those who stay for dinner, they will have the pleasure of ending the meal with the sweet touch of rose petit fours, accompanied by live music.
The Majestic Hotel
The afternoon can end at the Sweet Majestic Pastry Corner with a sweet rose created for this occasion.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the restaurant, which already has two Michelin stars, a tasting menu is offered with a careful selection of dishes that captures the essence, evolution and dedication of the acclaimed Catalan chef. And for this day, in addition, a special dessert is offered, a Sant Jordi Rose made with a delicate raspberry mousse with a heart of creamy white chocolate and rooibos tea, and a lychee gel with rose water, with a sponge cake base. with lemon peel and pieces of candied cherry. The flower is presented in a book-format box to celebrate this day.
