The Inaugural Seguici of the Mercè Festivals kicks off in El Raval with a parade starting at Palau de la Virreina. At 7 PM, popular figures like the Águila and the giants march down La Rambla and adjacent streets to Plaça Sant Jaume. There, accompanied by the Ministrils del Camí Ral, the dances and bestiary perform their sets. This year, the guest city, Shanghai, joins with its Rolling Lantern Show, a dance inspired by fishing practices, where Chinese artists manipulate luminous spheres simulating nets. The show can be seen both during the parade and on the plaza stage.
The Planns tip
Get to La Rambla early, right at the start of the route, to see the send-off and grab a good spot before it reaches Plaça Sant Jaume.
Practical info
Wednesday: from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Free Entry Duration: 120 minutes
The venue
Palau de la Virreina
Palau de la Virreina: Baroque memory, visual culture.
At Rambla 99, the Palau de la Virreina is an 18th-century Catalan Baroque civil architecture icon. Commissioned by Manuel Amat i Junyent, Viceroy of Peru, its construction (1772-1778) brought his vision to life. After his passing, his widow, Maria Francesca de Fiveller, occupied the palace, giving it the name it bears today. Its symmetrical facade and double-staircase courtyard are defining architectural features. Currently, it's home to the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona and the Virreina Centre de la Imatge, a hub for temporary photography and visual arts exhibitions, plus the Gegants de la Ciutat.
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