Corpus Christi In Spain: Barcelona Traditions
L’OU COM BALLA IN BARCELONA
How this Corpus Christi tradition started remains a mystery: That day, many fountains of the Barcelona Gothic Quarter are decorated with flowers and cherries, then an egg that has been previously emptied of its yolk and white through a small hole that is then carefully resealed with wax, is placed on top of the water jet.
This is where to go to see the Barcelona dancing egg:
1
Cathedral of Saint Eulàlia
The tradition of the dancing eggs is said to have started in this Catedral around the mid 1400’s. Their flower and fruit decoration is one of the most outstanding ones, and to avoid the crowds that used to gather in the cloister to see it, nowadays the egg is dancing not just on the Thursday of Corpus Christi, but most of that week. You have no excuse to miss it! Seeing the Ou com Balla is a great excuse to visit the Cathedral.
2
Palau del Lloctinent
A bit further down the street, another quiet Gothic patio invites you to take some of your best pictures of dancing eggs, as their fountain is shorter and it allows for better pictures. The place was once the Archives of the Crown of Aragon, before becoming the headquarters of the Spanish Viceroy.
3
Museu Marés
Nearby, in the Gothic courtyard that was once part of the garden of the Royal Palace (and unfortunately later on, headquarters of the Inquisition), you’ll see another dancing egg. The orange tree garden invites you to relax while admiring this hypnotic tradition. And when you are done, you might want to check out this unique art and antiques museum or just enjoy a coffee in their outdoors cafe.
4
Casa de l’Ardiaca
Another popular place to gaze at the Ou com Balla is the former Administration of the Cathedral, later Board of the city layers and now Archives of the City. Their fountain is almost as beautifully decorated as the one in the Cathedral, and it’s also quite tall – what makes it more impressive. Go upstairs to the upper balcony to get an unusual shot of the dancing egg from a higher angle.
5
Poble Espanyol
At the very end of the enclosure, crossing a medieval gate and a bridge you’ll get to a recreation of a Pyrenean Romanesque monastery. Right outside of it, a fountain with views over the city is the chosen spot to make the egg dance.
AND BONUS! A village near Barcelona to see one of the most gorgeous festivals for Corpus Christi in Spain:
6
A daytrip to Sitges for Corpus Christi
A short 30min train ride will take you to the charming seaside village of Sitges, that for Corpus Domini celebrates one of its most popular festivals: the contest of Flower Carpets.
Locals carefully arrange flower petals along the streets creating beautiful patterns and drawings, and the best design receives a ceramic plate that is proudly displayed in the walls of the street: some of them display a huge collection of them! By the way, if you still want to see the Ou com Balla, you’ll be able to see it in the Maricel Museum, too.
Had you heard before about the l'Ou com Balla tradition?
Marta
Marta is the founder of ForeverBarcelona. She is a passionate tour guide that loves Barcelona and loves writing too. She is the main author of our Blog, and is committed to sharing her knowledge about Barcelona and her best tips with our readers.
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