arts & culture

Fira de Sant Ponç is one of Barcelona’s oldest and most traditional street fairs, dedicated to herbs, natural remedies and all things fragrant, sweet and medicinal. Celebrated since the Middle Ages and named after the patron saint of herbalists and beekeepers, it carries a lovely old-world feel. 

According to legend, after coming to Barcelona and witnessing the widespread misery that resulted from years of sickness, plague and poverty, the Saint began preparing potions and medicinal remedies to cure the city's sick. To show gratitude, the people decided to create an annual herbal festival in his honour.

The fair is centred on Carrer Hospital, where stalls fill the street with aromatic herbs, honey, artisan cheeses, candied fruit, preserves, syrups, chocolates and handmade products linked to herbal culture. It’s a longstanding city tradition, where Barcelona’s appetite for craft, flavour and folklore all come together in one of spring’s most charming outings.