The commercial and historic center of Tortosa was filled with color and activity during the Sant Jordi day, which proved to be one of the most participatory in the capital of Terres de l'Ebre. Citizens from across the region came to enjoy the festivities, which featured a wide array of roses, books, and the presence of various entities.
“"It's the most festive day of the year, people are out on the streets, much happier, the cafes are much fuller."
The owner of a local bookstore confirmed that, despite the grey weather, the day was
“"very busy"
with good sales throughout the morning, especially of books for gifts. She also highlighted the large attendance from schools, emphasizing the children's excitement for books, an object that
“"remains more alive than ever"
Among the best-selling books in the Terres de l'Ebre bookstores, new releases by local authors stood out, such as Arriembanda by Josep Pitarch, Veschi by Bernat Navarro, and the photographic collection of the Battle of the Ebro by David Tormo. Literary novelties, including those popular on social media, were the most sought after.
One of the writers signing books in Tortosa was Xabier Coluig, who presented Tapissos, a collection of short stories. The author expressed his excitement to reconnect with the public in Tortosa on this day, after several years of not being able to participate.
One of the novelties of this Sant Jordi in Tortosa was the literary route featuring texts by Manuel Pérez Bonfill, displayed in the windows of 35 commercial establishments in the city center. The son of the professor and writer positively assessed the initiative to bring literature closer to younger generations, with active participation from the city's schools.
“"It is extremely important for there to be a generational handover, and that when an event of this type occurs, not only white hairs are seen. These boys and girls who are here should read, should write, should spend less time on TikTok and less on social media, as all that only makes them dumber."
The mayor of Tortosa, Mar Lleixà, described the day as
“"very special"
recalling the figure of Gerard Vergés and announcing a tribute to Zoraida Burgos. She also expressed the desire to continue the literary route with new authors in the future, and highlighted that Tortosa would experience
“"the most Catalan Sant Jordi ever"
with the language demonstration and the arrival of the Correllengua Agermanat.
