La Diada Nacional de Cataluña is one of the most iconic festivals of Catalan culture on all levels: political, cultural and social. This day has turned into a vindication of Catalan rights and nationalist sentiments, charged in past years with independence ideals of the better part of Catalan society. This year, 2018 will be no different, and the fight for different criteria with respect to the situation of the Spanish state is burning hotter than ever. However, apart from political and social vindication, Diada offers other interesting cultural events that are important to highlight. In this article from ShBarcelona, we will be talking about the Diada de Cataluña.
Related article: La Senyera: History of the Catalan Flag
As we’ve said, the day of the Diada is not only an act of vindication in which, very likely, there will be a multitude of marches through Barcelona organized by the ANC (Asamblea Nacional Cataluña) demanding that Catalonia be converted into an independent state in the form of a republic. It is also a day where you can enjoy Catalan cultural without entering into a political debate.
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One of the options you have on this day is visiting the MNAC (Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya). On September 11, the MNAC opens its doors for free entry. This museum is known not only for the excellent art collection that coat its interior, but also its location. The MNAC is located in a building that crowns the famous avenue of the fountains of Montjüic, built in 1929 for the World’s Fair being celebrated in Barcelona. Furthermore, until October 14, you can see the unmissable exhibition about Gala and Dalí, an excellent collection about renaissance and baroque art, documentaries and the permanent collection of art that covers everything from the Romantic Period to Modern Art. This is, without a doubt, an excellent option for the Diada.
Another cultural option for the Diada is visiting the Palau de la Generalitat and the Parlamento de Cataluña, both of which you can enjoy on an open-doors day on September 11. The visiting hours are between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. and entry is completely free. It’s an excellent occasion to visit the institutional installations of the Catalan government that, in the case of parliament, are considered one of the oldest in the world.
Related article: Political Parties of Catalonia
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Finally, we propose visiting the Catalan History Museum, open for the Diada and with special events for the festival. Access is free only in the morning, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and there are short guided visits offered explaining what happened during the War of Succession, as well as events that took place on September 11 of 1714. It is a way to get to know an important part of the history of Catalonia and to better understand the reason for the Diada and why we celebrate September 11.
What do you think of these options for this year’s September 11? Will you go to one of them?
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