Three former mayors of Barcelona They accompany this Mercè 2023 to the readers of El Periódico as guides to the most notable events in the program. In four days the city concentrates hundreds of proposals for all tastes and ages. Jordi Hereu (PSC), Xavier Trias (Junts) and Ada Colau (BComú) have pointed out their favorite activities and have recalled the moments and anecdotes of the festival that have marked them the most.
And, between memories and advice, they have also highlighted scenarios and proposals that have ‘fallen’ of the programming and that they especially valued. They stand out four absences very different from each other and that could return one day if the organization deems it appropriate and possible.
Total consensus among the three former mayors: what a great Mercè stage the Ciutadella park has been. The daytime and nighttime street arts programming in this enclave raises shared praise and, at the same time, a certain strangeness due to its transfer in 2023 to the Estació del Nord. Although they share concern about the wear and tear suffered by the park, they regret not being able to enjoy dance, circus and performances here this year.
Former mayors Hereu and Trias have agreed to praise an activity that disappeared in 2014, the Festa del Cel acrobatic flight festival in Barcelona. It was not part of the main festival, actually, but it was celebrated the weekend after and officially served as the culmination. The beaches were filled with people to see the pirouettes of the ships flying over the sea. However, the difficulties that so many takeoffs and landings posed for El Prat Airport led to the event being moved out of the capital.
Former mayor Colau reflects on the empowerment that hosting large Mercè stages means for many peripheral neighborhoods. And he especially remembers the Trinitat Vella park, which debuted in the program in 2016. Neighbors from this territory of Sant Andreu had expressed to him how much they liked being part of the festival as a metaphor for their full right to be Barcelona in all the senses. The 2023 edition does not include this scenario. The neighborhood will only receive a visit from a small Picasso troupe, which will dance four times on Monday next to the L1 metro station.
Mapping in the Sagrada Família
Xavier Trias highlights the good reception that the mappings promoted during his mandate had. In particular, the one that took place on the Nativity façade of the Sagrada Família during Mercè 2012. It was organized by the consistory as one of the events shared with Montreal (Quebec). “It was a total and absolute success,” he recalls.