Everyone knows la Mercè, the big September festival. Far fewer visitors know its little winter sister: the Festes de Santa Eulàlia, around 12 February. For a few days, the old town brings back its giants, its human towers and its fire-spitting devils, and many museums open their doors for free. A more intimate festival, attended almost entirely by locals — and designed first and foremost for children.
At a glance
| Dates | Around Friday 12 February 2027, usually through the following weekend |
| Where | The old town: Plaça de Sant Jaume, cathedral, La Rambla, the Born |
| What’s on | Giants, human towers, correfoc, sardanas, concerts, free museums |
| Price | Free |
| Crowd | Families and locals: a very local feel |
Who was Eulàlia?
Eulàlia was a 13-year-old girl from Barcelona, martyred in the 4th century for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. Legend says she endured thirteen tortures, one for each year of her life. She is co-patron saint of Barcelona, alongside the Virgin of la Mercè, and rests in the crypt of the cathedral, which is dedicated to her.
Two traces of her to look for in the old town:
- The 13 geese in the cathedral cloister — they live around the cloister fountain, one for each year of the saint’s life. Their whiteness symbolises her purity.
- Baixada de Santa Eulàlia — the steep little street in the Gothic Quarter where, legend has it, she was rolled down in a barrel full of broken glass. A statue of the saint watches over it from a niche.
People in Barcelona also say that if it rains that day, it’s Eulàlia’s tears.
What not to miss
The giants and the Laies
The city’s gegants (giants) parade through the old town, surrounded by capgrossos (big heads). The queens of the festival are the Laies, the giantesses representing Eulàlia (Laia is her nickname), who gather for a big joint parade. During the festival, the giantesses are often displayed at the Palau de la Virreina on La Rambla, and the fire beasts and children’s giants at the Born CCM.
Human towers
The castellers build their human towers on Plaça de Sant Jaume, in front of City Hall and the Generalitat palace. It’s the perfect chance to see castells up close, with far fewer people than at la Mercè.
The correfoc
Devils run through the old town’s streets in a shower of sparks. There’s a children’s correfoc in the late afternoon and an adults’ one at night. To follow the latter up close: long-sleeved cotton clothes, a hood or cap, closed shoes — and nothing synthetic.
The Àliga and the sardana
The Àliga, the city’s eagle and one of the oldest figures of the festive procession, dances its Protocols before the city authorities. And in the squares, people dance the sardana, the Catalan circle dance: anyone can join in.
Free museums
The festival’s best deal: during the festes, many museums and landmark buildings open their doors for free (open-door days). The exact list is published by the city a few days before — we’ll share it on our Events page. Go early, queues build fast.
Practical tips
- The 2027 programme is published in early February on barcelona.cat/santaeulalia: castell and correfoc times change every year.
- With kids, stick to the daytime: giants, workshops, the children’s correfoc. The night correfoc is more intense.
- For the human towers, arrive 30–45 minutes early on Plaça de Sant Jaume.
- Free museums get packed on Saturday: go at opening time, or on Sunday morning.
- Santa Eulàlia isn’t a public holiday for shops: the city carries on as normal around the festival.
What else is on around Santa Eulàlia?
In early February, the Llum BCN festival lights up the streets of Poblenou with free light installations, and Carnival fills the week before, 4–10 February 2027 — see our guide to Carnival in Barcelona and Sitges. All the dates are on our Events page, and our rainy-day ideas in Barcelona on a rainy day.
Fancy carrying on the celebrations, grown-ups only? In the evening, book the BPM Bar sangria & cocktail workshop: 90 minutes behind the bar, in the heart of Eixample.