The essential Christmas fairs less than an hour from Barcelona
At the gates of 2023 and coinciding with the bridge of the constitution and the Immaculate Christmas season officially begins. Lights on, shops open and markets crowded are just a few indicators that Christmas is just around the corner. Leaving aside these great classics, December also allows you to enjoy another type of tourism with several getaways to discover the most deeply rooted Catalan traditions. The uncle and the nougats, two essentials, slip into a route with different stops less than an hour from Barcelona.
The fair of the tió de la Mura
the christmas star It is the tió, a wooden trunk, animated and with a barretina that “shits” gifts on Christmas day. Undoubtedly, the most deeply rooted tradition in Catalonia, the most popular by far. In the municipality of La Mura, his neighbors have decorated the streets with him since December 3 until the Sunday after Kings (January 8), Therefore, making the occasional getaway to meet him is one of the most viable options for vacations. Mura is a town located in the Bages region, in the heart of Catalonia, and 60 kilometers from Barcelona by car.
The medieval market of Vic
Another of the classics that is being held just this weekend in Vic, capital of the Osona region. Located throughout the historic center of the city, with the Plaza Mayor as the main enclaveIt can be accessed between 10:00 and 20:00. There are more than 380 craft stalls, handmade decorative items and all kinds of jewelry, creams, medicinal herbs and clothing accessories. There is also a large area dedicated to gastronomy with sausages, cheeses, sweets and preserves, as well as a space where you can taste traditional dishes and stews already prepared. A safe bet until Sunday the 10th included. Nearby is Espinelves and its well-known and recommended fir fair.
The Cardedeu nougat fair
Not as well known as the previous two, but equally or more curious and with nougat as the absolute protagonist. Y here the discovery is a local specialty, the nougat of lamb, made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, green anise and three other ingredients that are kept secret from generation to generation among Cardedeu bakers and pastry chefs. There are also activities around the tió, escudella tasting and sale of Christmas products. The municipality is located in the Vallès Oriental, in the mediations of Granollers and barely half an hour from Barcelona.
A giant light tunnel in Reus
One of the best known and most popular in the Tarragona area is Reus. A fair in the central Plaza del Mercadal, which lasts until Christmas Eve (December 23) and where you can find all kinds of decorations, fir trees, nativity scenes, caganers and tió. In addition to a giant tree, in the Plaza de la Llibertat there is a 34-meter long tunnel of light that offers a 10-minute light and music show, which is repeated daily at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Reus is just one hour from the Catalan capital.
Santa Llúcia in the center of Barcelona
In the center of the city, at the foot of the Cathedral and in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, the Santa Llúcia fair returns for another year. It is one of the oldest since it has been celebrated since 1786, reaching its 236th edition. All kinds of classics slip through the halls and booths, such as tios, nativity scenes, caganers and accessories to give away at Christmas. There are also several artisans with proposals for jewelry, decoration or even fashion items and accessories. The time is Delaware 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day until December 23.