Football and Festivals in España

By Annabelle Henderson, Esade Business School, Barcelona

Living in Barcelona has so far been an unforgettable experience, especially with the incredible food, culture, and vibrant city life. There’s always something happening, and I feel so lucky to be living in such an energetic place. Recently I have attended lots of festivals and done many cultural activities.

One of the first things I got to enjoy was the street festival in Gràcia. The whole neighbourhood was alive with music, performances, and delicious local food—a perfect introduction to Barcelona! September 11th was the National Day of Catalonia celebrations, a city-wide event filled with patriotic displays, cultural performances, and parades. It was amazing to see the incredible atmosphere spirit that everyone brought to this important day.

Then came the La Mercè festival, which has probably been my favourite event so far! This five-day celebration was packed with activities, and every day brought something new. We watched the castellers—these incredible human towers—saw papier-mâché giants parading through the streets, and enjoyed an incredible firework display with music chosen by one of Catalonia’s best musicians, Rosalia! The whole thing was surreal and as it was a public holiday, I was able to attend with my friends; we all had so much fun.

Esade University offers a class called ‘Art & Culture in Catalonia & Spain: 2000 years of beauty’ which informs us of all of these celebrations, as well as tells us the history of Spain’s music, food and architecture. It is my favourite class as I learn so much about Barcelona as a city and everything it has to offer. I plan on attending a flamenco show at some point, as my teacher has highly recommended it.

Recently, I have been to an FC Barcelona game against Sevilla, and what an experience that was! They won 5-1, and the energy in the stadium was unmatched. Right now, their home stadium is under renovation, so the match was held at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuïc as opposed to the usual Spotify Camp Nou. My friend and I had a fantastic time, and I’m hoping to get tickets for one of their matches against Real Madrid.