There is a desire (many) for Sant Jordi. This Saturday we are already experiencing a preview of what will arrive tomorrow. Throughout the day, there has been a bustle of books and roses, and a bustle, which has been especially noticeable in the center of Barcelona, and which points to what all the forecasts have been maintaining: that this year’s day could be record, after the pandemic and the past Sant Jordi storm.
This morning some -few- bookstores have already begun to set up their traditional stalls for sale on the street and a tide of curious people have approached them. Some rose stops They have also begun to warm up on the main avenues, although, it must be said, most of the merchants will set up their stalls starting this Sunday at the very first hour.
Barcelona residents and tourists, however, are already taking advantage of Saturday to shop without the crowds that are expected tomorrow, April 23, when they could mobilize up to a million people. The crane has not given truce in the literary ‘superilla’ either. The municipal service has come to this space – which has Paseo de Gràcia as its backbone and is between Gran Via and Diagonal avenue and Pau Claris and Balmes streets – to leave the roads free of cars and motorcycles. From early this Saturday it was no longer possible to park.
This Saturday, the passers-by have been stopping at the stalls set up from early morning, including those of La Casa del Libro on Paseo de Gràcia, the FNAC or the Corte Inglés in Plaza de Catalunya. In fact, this Sunday the Sant Jordi Day will have “the greatest offer of all time” in terms of spaces, stalls and author signatures both in Barcelona and throughout Catalonia, has assured the president of the Chamber of Books, Patrici thixis.
On Passeig de Gràcia the Red roses already adorn Casa Batlló, located at the confluence between the streets of Aragó and Paseo de Gràcia. The city, however, had already advanced the celebration on Friday with a concert in La Paloma by Mishima. David Carabén’s group inaugurated the new stage of the room with ‘La nit de les roses’, in which he toured his classics and covered Miley Cyrus, and included literary recitals by Mònica Batet, Martí Sales, Sebastià Alzamora and Maria Sevilla .
6 million roses
Circulating through the center of Barcelona will be difficult tomorrow, especially in the center and the Eixample, where, like last year, the literary ‘superilla’ will be located.
Both the florists’ union, which plans to sell some 6 million roses, and the book sector have very good prospects. In fact, a bulk of writers have already started signing books today. In Badalona there were queues of families waiting for the signature of children’s book illustrators like the veteran Roser Capdevilacreator of ‘Les tres bessones’, and of Rocio Bonilla, the ‘mom’ of ‘Minimori’. Also Laura Faa collaborator of EL PERIÓDICO, made her debut in a Sant Jordi as co-author of ‘Els pecats de la xona i tot allò que la Moreneta ens perdona’, written together between the ‘mamarazzi’ and the ERC stylist and other ‘vips’.
Recovery of La Rambla
The book and rose festival, which will recover the emblematic Rambla after three years of restrictions due to the pandemic, will be attended by writers such as Camilla Lackberg, John Boyne, Xavier Bosch, Luz Gabás, Enrique Vila-Matas, Eduardo Mendoza, Maria Barbal, Javier Cercas, Sara Mesa, Fernando Aramburu and Gemma Ventura, among many others. The filmmakers Pedro Almodóvar, Carla Simón and Albert Serra will also come with a book and will meet their followers at the stands.
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There will once again be a large axis of stalls between the Ciutat Vella district and Gran de Gràcia street in Barcelona. The Catalan capital will offer 12 stop spaces in seven districts: Eixample, Ciutat Vella, Gràcia, Les Corts, Poblenou, Sant Andreu and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi.
Although many have bought their purchases in advance to avoid crowds, the Guàrdia Urbana anticipates a large influx in Barcelona. has mobilized 275 agents and 330 auxiliaries. 230 New Jersey barriers will be installed -yellow concrete blocks- that will close traffic and prohibit the parking of vehicles in the literary ‘superblock’ until 2 in the morning on Monday, although they will keep some accesses open for the parking lots.