On March 10 through 16, 2011, in St.Petersburg, a delegation from Barcelona, headed by Ignasi Cardelus, Deputy Mayor for Public Affairs. The visit was timed to the 25th anniversary of partnership and the Year of Russia in Spain and Spain in Russia. The delegation included the representatives of the Department for Culture and Department for External Relations of Barcelona.
On March 10 through 16, 2011, in St.Petersburg, a delegation from Barcelona, headed by Ignasi Cardelus, Deputy Mayor for Public Affairs. The visit was timed to the 25th anniversary of partnership and the Year of Russia in Spain and Spain in Russia. The delegation included the representatives of the Department for Culture and Department for External Relations of Barcelona.
During the visit, the leaders of the Department for Culture of Barcelona met with A.N. Gubankov, Chairman of the Committee for Culture, on March 10. Discussed was the possibility of participation of creative teams of St.Petersburg in the Festes de La Merce, celebrated as the Day of the city of Barcelona in September. An agreement was reached on exchange of experiences between the cities on the organization of urban festivities.
On March 14, Ignasi Cardelus, Deputy Mayor of Barcelona, examined the projects of development of the sea front (Marine Facade) and the sea port. An agreement was reached on exchange of experience between St.Petersburg and Barcelona as the largest players at the cruise market.
On the same day, the Deputy Mayor of Barcelona met with A.V. Prokhorenko, Member of St.Petersburg Government, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations, and Yu.E. Kiseleva, Chairman of the Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture. They discussed the possibility of further expansion of cooperation between St.Petersburg and Barcelona in different areas concerning the organization of life of European cities in the modern world.
An agreement was reached on elaboration and signing of a cooperation program between the cities for 2012–2015, which, inter alia, could include: exchange of experience in strategic planning and strategies of public administration, historical heritage preservation and modern approaches to solving urban problems, development of tourism, transport logistics, cooperation between ports, the expansion of contacts in the area of science and education, youth and sports exchanges, the development of contacts at the level of civil society, development of cultural relations. The parties also mentioned the need to open year-round direct flights between St.Petersburg and Barcelona.
On March 14, a creative meeting with Catalan writers - poetess Vignette Panella and novelist Esteban Martin was held at the Center for Spanish Language and Culture «ADELANTE», within the framework of the Barcelona’s delegation visiting St.Petersburg.
On March 15, the delegation of Barcelona presented at the Committee for Culture the project “La Mercé”, which is the most large-scale and popular festivity in Catalonia and in Spain, annually held in Barcelona. Historical traditions relate to the holiday, celebrated on September 24 in honor of St Eulàlia, who is considered the saint patroness of the city. It is a festival of arts of various genres, combining the historical tradition and contemporaneity. The festival is held during a week on the streets and squares of Barcelona, turning the city into a huge stage area, and is open for the public. The holiday is very popular with the residents of Barcelona and tourists from around the world, attracting up to 2 million people annually. National traditions represented at the festivity are included in the List of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO.
The official program of the Festes de La Mercé involves a guest city. In 2011, on the occasion of the reciprocating “Year of Russia in Spain and Spain in Russia” and 25 years of partnership, the guest city at the Festes de La Mercé will be St.Petersburg.
News Source: St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations