The Sant Ponç Festival Fairs, Popular festivals and traditions
05/11/2025

The Sant Ponç Festival is one of the oldest and most traditional ones in Catalonia and is dedicated to medicinal remedies, aromatic herbs and culinary essences. The streets of Catalan towns are filled with stalls selling high quality gastronomic products. In Barcelona, the Sant Ponç Festival is centered on the Calle Hospital, which is transformed into a souk filled with the aromas and tastes of aromatic herbs, candy, chocolate, honey, artisan cheese, candied fruit and much more. Sant Ponç is the patron saint of herbalists and, according to the legend, upon coming to Barcelona and witnessing the widespread misery that prevailed, he began to prepare potions and medicinal remedies to cure the city's sick. In gratitude for his work, the Barcelonans decided to create a herb festival in his honor. The festival is rounded off with other activities that start on the night of 10 May with the decoration of the figure of the saint with herbs and flowers. The following day this is carried on a procession through the streets and there is a blessing of the medicinal herbs brought along by those in attendance..