Barcelona, Spain is about to turn on Christmas lighting mode

The latest news is that Barcelona, Spain is actively preparing for the upcoming Christmas, and this year will launch more light-filled spaces and new festive lighting designs. Raquel Gil, commissioner of the Commerce, Restoration and Market Committee, detailed this year's innovative initiatives, including the installation of 22 large illuminated Christmas dolls throughout the city and the implementation of two special trade routes, located in the Gothic Quarter and Raval.

The official lighting launch ceremony is scheduled for November 28 and is expected to last until Three Kings Day. The city council has invested 3.3 million euros in this project, an increase of 13% over last year. Gil said the goal is to bring light to "new points in the city," especially in some lesser-known areas, to promote local business development.

It is reported that these large Christmas installations will be distributed in multiple areas, including Calle Vallcivera in Ciutat Meridiana and Plaza d fonts in Baró de Viver. Although Gil did not reveal all the details, she mentioned that one of the installations will be a reindeer. In addition, the lighting hours will be extended from 5:30 pm to 1 am from Sunday to Thursday, and until 2 am on Friday and Saturday.

Gil said that the extension of the lighting hours will not have a significant impact on the economy, because almost all lamps now use LED technology, which has low energy consumption and economic costs. In general, this year's Christmas lighting will reach 110 kilometers, 6 kilometers more than in previous years, and the key lighting areas include Plaza Urquinaona, Paral·lel, Via Laietana, Rambla and Gran Via.

In addition, the city of Barcelona will illuminate the facades of 14 unique buildings in the city, such as Torre de les Aigües del Besòs and Maria de Torre Llobeta. Two special lighting routes will be launched through the iconic shops of the Gothic Quarter and Raval, aiming to attract the attention of citizens and tourists.

Gil stressed that this measure will not only enhance the business atmosphere, but also help enrich the city's leisure and dining experience. The city government hopes to expand this plan in the next few years to cover more neighborhoods and stores. At the same time, the City Council will provide industry associations with an extraordinary subsidy of 75%, with an estimated budget of 1.4 million euros, to help with festive decorations on 20 streets.

Finally, the city of Barcelona also plans to update the lighting design of the iconic Plaza Catalunya and the streets of Aragó and Gran Via by 2025, and a competition organized by the Industrial Design Association will select the best design. Through this series of measures, Barcelona hopes to provide citizens and tourists with a warmer and brighter festive atmosphere during Christmas.