Celebrate the Diada de Sant Jordi in Barcelona and in Camp de Tarragona, with BusPlana

The towns and cities of Catalonia are filled with roses and books to celebrate one of the most festive and characteristic days of Catalan culture, known as Diada de Sant Jordi. It is a whole day in which the streets are impregnated with the smell of this flower and the most important readings of the year, to remember the legend of Sant Jordi, which is located, specifically, in the town of Montblanc, in Camp de Tarragona.   

Although Montblanc is the exact location of this legend, there are many more municipalities that join this celebration, such as Barcelona, Tarragona, Reus, Valls, Salou, Cambrils and Vila-seca. From BusPlana, we provide you with the schedules of our regular lines, which you can check on our website, to travel to all of these towns. In addition, as we are the official airport shuttle service, you can buy the official tickets online for transfers from the Barcelona Airport to Costa Dorada.  

Get to know the legend of Sant Jordi  

This festivity is based on the legend of Sant Jordi, collected by the Catalan folklorist Joan Amades, in his work "Costumari català", during the middle of the 20th century. However, this legend had already been around for a long time, dating back to the Middle Ages, when the Dominican friar Jacopo da Varazze wrote the "Leyenda dorada" (Golden Legend), in which this legend is already mentioned. But it was not until the publication of Joan Amades' book that this story was pinpointed in the town of Montblanc.  

The Catalan explains that in the outskirts of the town there was a dragon that was terrorising the population, eating all the animals. To prevent it from continuing to cause harm, it was decided that an inhabitant, drawn by lot, would be sacrificed each day to feed the monster. On one of those days, the king's daughter was chosen. When the princess was reaching the beast, a knight, Sant Jordi, appeared and wounded the dragon, saving her from being sacrificed.   

According to the legend, in the same place where the dragon's blood was spilt, a rosebush of red roses grew, from which the knight chose the best flower and gave it to the king's daughter. It is for this reason that roses are still given to loved ones today.   

Nowadays, during this special day, in addition to the rose stalls, there are also many sale points for books and book signings, as the 23rd of April is also International Book Day. In Catalonia, both festivities have merged to offer residents and visitors a unique, cultural and popular festival.   

Montblanc Medieval Week  

From the 19th to the 28th of April, Montblanc celebrates, on a large scale, its 37th Medieval Week, based on the legend of Sant Jordi, with an extensive programme of activities for the whole family.   

During the two weekends, this town transforms itself and travels back in time, offering a wide variety of events, parades and shows, as well as the medieval market and exhibition of trades; the wine and cava market; the knights' school; and the village camp, where you can find out how the inhabitants lived during the Middle Ages.   

On the other hand, if you visit the town on the 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th of April, you can also walk along its medieval walls.  

Experience Sant Jordi, on a large scale, in Barcelona  

Barcelona also joins in this celebration, with a programme full of signings by renowned authors, books and roses sale points, activities and plays for all audiences. In the case of Barcelona, the nerve centre of the festival will be L'Eixample, specifically, between the streets of Diagonal, Gran Vía, Balmes and Pau Claris, extending to Las Ramblas and Carrer Gran de Gràcia.   

In addition, the different districts of the city will also have their own spaces dedicated to the sale of books and roses, such as Sants-Montjuïc, Les Corts and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, among others. The Barcelona City Council also opens its doors on the 21st of April, as is tradition, on the Diada de Sant Jordi.  

On the eve of Sant Jordi, Biblioteques de Barcelona is also organizing a meeting place with writers, including Mircea Cărtărescu, Andrea Genovart, Greta García, Lucía Lijtmaer, Rodrigo Fresán, Henry Marsh, Roser Vernet, Mar García Puig, Sergi Pàmies, Carlota Gurt, Hernán Díaz, Jordi Puntí and Joana Marcús.   

Tarragona's Rambla Nova, also a protagonist of the Diada  

In the case of the capital of the province of Tarragona, the Diada de Sant Jordi will be held on Rambla Nova, where a total of 137 book and rose stalls will be set up throughout the 23rd of April. There will also be other stands distributed around the rest of the city.   

Book signings will take place at book stores such as Llibreria Adserà, Abacus and La Capona. In addition, during the afternoon, various events will take place, such as sardana dances and "castells" performances.   

Reus, Valls, and other municipalities in the Camp de Tarragona area  

The city of Reus will host the traditional stalls selling roses and books in Plaça del Mercadal. There will also be many more stalls in Plaça del Castell, Carrer Santa Maria, Carrer del Mar, Carrer de les Peixateries, Carrer del Fossar Vell, Carrer Major, Plaça del Teatre, Plaça Prim and Raval de Santa Anna. During the days surrounding the Diada, there will also be book presentations, talks, concerts, children's workshops and much more.   

From the 18th to the 26th of April, Valls is another town that has prepared a great cultural programme to celebrate Sant Jordi, which includes, above all, the traditional book and rose stands on the 23rd of April in Plaça El Pati and the adjacent streets. There will also be parades, sardana dances, concerts and children's shows, among other activities.  

We cannot forget about the town of Cambrils, which will offer its stalls of roses and flowers at the Sant Jordi market; as well as a table of authors, who will sign their works; a sardana dance and the show "Pigs", for the little ones.   

In the case of Salou, the tourism capital of Costa Dorada will be celebrating Sant Jordi in a new location, Plaça de la Pau. Throughout the day, books and roses will be on sale, as well as workshops, shows for children and cultural events. Lastly, Vila-seca will once again be holding this Diada in the Castle garden.   

Remember that with the BusPlana regular lines, you can travel to Montblanc, Barcelona, Tarragona, Reus, Valls, Salou, Cambrils and Vila-seca. You can check the schedules on our website. Moreover, as we are the official airport shuttle service, you can buy the official tickets online for transfers from the Barcelona Airport to Costa Dorada.  

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