Thousands of people gathered in Lleida for Sant Jordi on 23 April, filling the literary street market along Rambla Ferran and Francesc Macià. Booksellers and editors confirmed positive expectations, with dozens of stalls busy throughout the day.
The celebration benefited from a notable change this year. Stalls were set up on a wider Rambla Ferran, following renovation work completed last summer. This provided more space in the central area, easing congestion and making it more comfortable for visitors to browse books. Civic, social, and cultural organisations, alongside political parties and trade unions, relocated to Avinguda Francesc Macià, where Lleida TV and Grup SEGRE also had stands.
Shoppers and visitors filled Lleida's literary thoroughfare, which was packed with bookshops, publishers, and florists near the Morera Museum. The museum also held an open day and set up its own book stall outside. Peak times, especially at midday and throughout the afternoon, drew large crowds, helped by pleasant weather conditions. The Paeria organised musical activities on a stage at the corner of Ferran and Democràcia, featuring concerts by Damnor, Ares Merchal, and Blanco Cénit, as well as sardana dances with Cobla Tàrrega.
Local Authors and Rose Sales Boost Sant Jordi
Stalls from major bookshops and publishers hosted many Lleida authors presenting new literary works. This year's harvest included over 40 new titles. Florists also met expectations, with approximately 2.5 million roses sold across Catalonia by the professional sector alone, contributing to a total of 7 million flowers. Most regional capitals and other towns throughout Lleida also experienced lively Sant Jordi celebrations, with high public attendance.
Among the authors present across Catalonia were Regina Rodríguez Sirvent with 'Crispetes de matinada' (Popcorn at Dawn), Gil Pratsobrerroca with 'El joc del silenci' (The Game of Silence), Eduardo Mendoza with 'La intriga del funeral inconveniente' (The Intrigue of the Inconvenient Funeral), Fernando Aramburu with 'Maite', and Òscar Andreu with 'Manual de defensa del català' (Manual for the Defence of Catalan).
Looking ahead, the success of this year's expanded layout on Rambla Ferran is likely to influence future Sant Jordi celebrations in Lleida, potentially setting a precedent for managing large crowds and enhancing visitor experience.
