Barcelona will mark Corpus Christi from 4 to 7 June, with squares, courtyards and churches across the city hosting catifes florals, or floral carpets, and the tradition of l'ou com balla, the dancing egg, according to Barcelona Metropolitan. First held in 1320, Corpus Christi is one of the city’s oldest festivals.
The celebrations include exhibitions, open houses, talks, traditional folk dances, religious processions, and appearances by gegants and festival beasts. For readers following other local coverage, see our news page for more Catalonia stories.
Several places in Barcelona will host the dancing egg. Among them are the Arxiu de la Corona d’Aragó, 4 to 7 June from 10:00 to 19:00, the Barcelona Cathedral, 4 June from 9:30 to 19:00 and 5 to 7 June at varying times, and the Monestir de Pedralbes, 4 to 7 June with open doors on 4 and 7 June. Other sites include the Ateneu Barcelonès, the Basílica de la Puríssima Concepció, the Palau de la Virreina, the Seminari Conciliar de Barcelona and the Torre de la Sagrera.
Floral carpets will also appear in a wide range of locations, including the Ajuntament de Barcelona, the Basílica de Santa Maria del Pi, Casa dels Entremesos, Centre Cultural Albareda, Museu Etnològic i de Cultures del Món, Plaça d’Orfila and Plaça de la Virreina. Some sites will pair the carpets with dance performances, including the gegants of Gràcia on Carrer de la Llibertat at 18:00 on 7 June, and cultural groups from Sant Andreu at Plaça d’Orfila at 18:00 on 6 June.
Other notable timings include the children’s floral carpet at Centre Cultural Albareda on 6 June from 9:00 to 15:00, the floral carpet at Carrer de la Llibertat on 7 June from 10:00 to 18:00, and the carpet at Santa Maria del Taulat on 7 June from 10:00 to 13:00. The full programme also includes open doors at several venues, giving residents and visitors more chances to see the festival up close.
For official information on the city programme, readers can check Barcelona’s municipal channels and the participating venues. The festival remains a fixed date in the city calendar, with activities spread across Barcelona rather than concentrated in one single site.