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[title]As has become tradition, for Sant Jordi Day on April 23, to celebrate the patron saint of Catalonia, museums, institutions and other spaces around town open their doors so you can visit them for free. The Ajuntament de Barcelona (City Hall) opens from 10am to 8pm, when you can check out the interior as well as the Maria Aurèlia Capmany lookout point if you reserve a time at the information point in the Plaça de Sant Miquel. In the patio you'll find Sant Jordi roses for sale to benefit charities.
You'll also have the opportunity to visit the gorgeous Pavelló Mies Van der Rohe, which is transformed into a venue for books and music with a selection of books on modern and contemporary architecture to browse through – also from 10am to 8pm – and a concert from Duo Boulez at noon. You can also visit the magnificent Palau Savassona, the headquarters of the Ateneu Barcelonès, where you'll find a few stalls selling books and four concerts related to the four seasons of the year in four lovely areas of the building.
You'll definitely want to stop by the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, which opens its doors to let you in for free from 10am to 2.30pm. At noon in the gardens they're also putting on a family show called 'De poetes, cançonetes', where a guitar and a magic suitcase full of poems help the little ones (and grown-ups too) learn a bit differently the works of Catalan poets such as Vicent Andrés Estellés, Enric Casasses, Miquel Martí i Pol, Pere Quart and Joana Raspall, among others. You can also buy books and roses in the stalls surrounding Sant Pau.
A day earlier, Palau Güell celebrates with a tour and a family workshop called 'The Rose: ornamentation at the Palace and stamping' (11am-1pm, €3).
Museums are joining in on the celebration as well: the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia and the History Museum of Catalonia both open their doors from 10am to 2.30pm, while the Archaeology Museum hosts an activity called 'Hero for a day' at 11am.