Things to do in Barcelona for Easter

We call Easter the «Setmana Santa» which means Holy Week. Nothing more suitable to describe all the things to do in Barcelona for Easter. Enjoy our selection.

Enjoy Palmes and Palmons

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Holy Week starts in Catalonia and in Spain with «Diumenge de Rams», recreating the welcome that Jesus got from the inhabitants of Jerusalem twenty centuries ago. If you wish to join locals in our celebration this is one of your things to do in Barcelona for Easter. This year, the «Rams» Sunday takes place on the 29th of March and consists in parades and masses where children can get «palmes» and «palmons» blessed by a priest. «Palmes» and «Palmons» are dried palm leafs with ritual purposes.

The tradition says the godfather or the godmother of the child buys a «palma» for the girls or a «palmó» for the boys for them to carry around on this day. Despite the fact that they are not really useful beyond «Diumenge de Rams», «palmes» and «palmons», they are really meaningful souvenirs. During the previous week there will be a market selling them in front of the Cathedral and the same 29th of March there’s a public blessing by the archbishop there at 11 o’clock in the morning, if you wish to join.

Discover the processions

Andalucia is famous for it’s magnificent and baroque faith expressions during Easter. But the same happens all around Spain, with some changes. So, you’ve guessed it, one of the things to do in Barcelona for Easter is to see one of our typical religious parades, named «processons». The biggest one in Barcelona is the one that features «Jesús del Gran Poder» and «María Santíssima de la Esperanza Macarena», which starts at Sant Agustí Square on Holy Friday (April 3rd) at 17 hours and goes through several streets in the Old Town including La Rambla, Portal de l’Angel, Cathedral Square, Pi Square and the back part of La Boqueria Marquet. Just a warning: the whole «processó» lasts almost 5 hours and is worth it, though I have to confess I never saw it complete.

Go to Montserrat

This is clearly one of the things to do in Barcelona for Easter given that weather is still mild at this time of the year and that Montserrat is one of the holiest places in Catalonia. I introduce Montserrat to my guests as «the Catalan Vatican», which is totally inaccurate, but helps to understand that this monastery is the place where we go in pilgrimage at least once in our lives and the perfect synthesis of a national an religious symbol.

The abbot of the monastery is a respected religious and political authority and the virgin of Monsterrat, la «Moreneta» (we call her «the Brunette» because she’s a black virgin statue) is venerated throughout the country. To reach Montserrat, board the R5 line at Plaça Espanya station (it’s a FGC line, not a metro line). When you arrive, you can choose to climb the mountain on foot (it’s a few hours, so plan it in advance) or get there to the monastery by cable car or a special mountain train.

The sweetest of traditions

This doesn’t sound very sacred, I know, but among the things to do in Barcelona for Easter is allow yourself to enjoy some sweet treats. That’s because the Monday after Sunday of Resurrection, we celebrate La Mona, which consists of a family meal normally crowned by a cake with a chocolate figure on top. This figure is normally an egg, but nowadays these creations are absolutely mind blowing and can be anything you imagine. Just take a glimpse at what the masters at Pastisseria Hoffman (at Flassaders Street 44), Escribà (at la Rambla, 83) or Oriol Balaguer (At Sant Gregori Taumaturg Square) can do with chocolate.

After Christmas in Barcelona, Easter is our most popular religious celebration, that’s why you won’t run out of ideas for things to do in Barcelona for Easter. Enjoy!