La Mercè 2013

Ten of the most important, fun, and exciting events of the city's big celebration Pregó de Festa Major Dalí, Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Pau Casals ... Make a list of well-known Catalans among them will be the man delivering this year's opening speech (called the prego) – someone who has helped half of humankind realise that the world of gastronomy is still a territory to explore and something still capable of surprising us in so many ways. Ferran Adrià steps out of the kitchen to spend some time with the people of Barcelona from the Saló de Cent. There will be a giant screen installed in Plaça Sant Jaume so everyone can see the famous chef deliver the important festival-starting words. Vienna, special guest This year's guest city during the Mercè will fill Barcelona's streets with a touch of Austria via a variety of events. One of the highlights is the electronica opera, which you can see in the Parc de la Ciutadella Til·lers (2014 stage) on Friday the 20th (at 9.30pm); on the 21st, 22nd and 24th at 4pm; and on the 23rd from 7.15pm. Wolfgang Mitterer, Erdem Tunakan, Lucas Baio and Dominik Grünbühe will be reinterpreting classics in one of the most contemporary styles. La ciutat de la bullícia (The bustling city) Go back in time to 1708 Barcelona, a lively city that was busy celebrating the wedding of Archduke Charles VI and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfensbüttel. Strolling through the Parc de la Ciutadella you'll come across festive processions, decorated gardens, miquelet

Combined with a wander down frenetic, commercial La Rambla, a stroll through the medieval alleyways and secluded squares of the Old City is the best possible introduction to Barcelona and the starting point for most visitors upon arrival in the city. For a taste of the town's more grandiose architecture, Plaça Sant Jaume is flanked by two government buildings, the Renaissance palace of the Generalitat and neo-classical façade of the Ajuntament. Restaurants in the Barri Gòtic Ohla Gastrobar The Ohla Gastrobar, at the top of the Ohla Hotel, is an exclusive but relaxed spot that serves small haute cuisine, courtesy of chef Richard Frank, who also runs the modern classic Saüc. La Cuina del DO Such is the quality of this hotel restaurant, located in a basement area in Plaça Real, that the hotel seems to have been built around the restaurant. They offer inspired auteur cuisine, where the produce wins out over technique, with unusual combinations such as crab cannelloni or sole with Swiss chard. Bosco A cosy restaurant with spectacular décor, and which aspires to stake a claim in the barrio through its highly effective cuisine. There’s no pretensions here, just dishes such as cannelloni stuffed with roast chicken, mushrooms and foie gras. Good for sharing. Can Culleretes Barcelona’s oldest restaurant, ​​and one of the oldest in Spain, is still going strong. The Agut-Manubens family, with mother and daughter to the fore, serve good Catalan cooking at very reasonable prices, notably t