General
information on events can be obtained from Palau de Congressos,
Avinguda Maria Cristina 1 (tel: (93) 233 2000). The Grec-Barcelona
festival (tel: (93) 318 8599 or (90) 210 1212 (Entrada); website:
www.grec.bcn.es), which takes place every summer from June to
August, is the focus of the city's cultural life. Theatre, music
and dance are performed at venues throughout the city, including
the open-air auditoria at Teatre Grec on Montjuïc and Convent
de Sant Augustí. In October and November; the annual
Festival Internacional de Jazz run by The Project (tel: (93)
481 7040; fax: (93) 481 7041), takes place.
Traditional festivities take place on 23 April in honour of
Sant Jordi (St George) and again on 24 June for the Verbena
de Sant Joan (St John) when bonfires and fireworks illuminate
the city. There are two major celebrations in early autumn:
Diada Nacional de Catalunya (Catalonia National Day) on 11 September
and the spectacular Fiesta de La Mercé (the patron saint
of Barcelona) on 24 September. Festivities for the latter include
parades, traditional dancing, sporting events and religious
celebrations. Human pyramids known as castellers are constructed
in the streets
BARCELONA - Cultural events
