Santa Llúcia

Saint Lucy hailed from the island of Sicily, and her life has many parallels with Barcelona's co-patron saint, Eulàlia. In both cases, their firm religious beliefs and defence of their Christian faith led them to be persecuted and tortured during the reign of Diocletian. In the case of Saint Lucy, one of the torments consisted of plucking out her eyes. This is why she is the patron saint of the blind, seamstresses and tailors. A special mass is held on her feast day, 13th December, in the Romanesque chapel next to the cathedral.

Barcelona's main Christmas market, the Fira de Santa Llúcia, is one of the oldest in Europe and named after Saint Lucy. It has been held in front of the cathedral since 1786, and sells all kinds of Christmas decorations for the tree and Nativity scene. It also has a section devoted to handcrafted items. The visit is an absolute must if you want to soak up the Christmas spirit in Barcelona and discover its traditions.