This weekend, the city of Barcelona and the coastal town of Sitges will be filled with color and fragrance on the occasion of the Corpus Christi festival. This tradition, with more than 700 years of history, turns the streets into authentic floral carpets.
Residents and visitors have the opportunity to marvel at these spectacular works of art, an event that combines devotion, art and community.
In Barcelona, the celebration of Corpus Christi lasts until Sunday, June 2. During these days, various emblematic spaces of the city are adorned with impressive floral carpets, designed and elaborated by teams of neighbors and floral artists.
This year, a total of 22 places will host these carpets, among them the Barcelona City Hall, the Cathedral and the Basilica del Pi.
Floral carpet schedules and locations
The Barcelona City Hall, located in Sant Jaume square, will be one of the epicenters of this celebration. The doors will be open to the public on Thursday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and on Sunday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
During these days, visitors will be able to admire the detailed and colorful floral carpets that will decorate this historic building.
In addition to the floral carpets, the Corpus Christi festival in Barcelona includes a series of cultural and traditional activities.
Among them are the programmed exhibitions, the traditional dance of the “egg as it dances” in several fountains of the city, and the majestic departures of the giants of La Verneda and Gràcia. These activities not only offer an immersion in local traditions, but also allow visitors to enjoy a festive and communal atmosphere.
Sitges: a floral show by the sea
A few kilometers from Barcelona, the town of Sitges also celebrates Corpus Christi with its own famous tradition of floral carpets. This small coastal town is known for its impressive floral decorations that cover the streets during Corpus Christi Sunday. Declared a Festival of National Artistic Interest in 1952 and a Festival of Tourist Interest in 1965, this celebration attracts thousands of visitors every year.
In Sitges, the creation of floral carpets is a deeply communal activity. From Saturday afternoon until the early hours of Sunday morning, Sitges residents gather in the streets to make these magnificent works of art.
They use fresh flowers and other natural materials to create designs ranging from geometric patterns to complex artistic representations.
Procession route
The route of the Corpus Christi procession in Sitges covers approximately 1.2 kilometers, distributed in 35 sections decorated with floral carpets. During the procession, these carpets serve as a guide and are trodden by the religious procession and the giants, symbolizing a deep connection between the community and its cultural heritage.
