Markets in Barcelona

As a city on the Mediterranean coast and because of the natural routes connecting it with the interior since Roman times, Barcelona has always been a great commercial city. The market has been an important factor in the city’s development to date and thus, becoming an important part of the Catalan economy as well.

There is evidence that the first organized market here was held at a spot outside the city walls, where the Plaza de Angel currently stands, at the end of the 10^th century. Then others began to appear for the exchange of goods, such as el Born or la Boqueria, going through a great evolution from the Middle Ages until the 19^th century, reflecting the various changes in society.

The markets we know today are essentially the result of thousands of years of history. And in both their appearance and rationality, they are a legacy left to us by the cast-iron architecture, a classification that arose during the 19^th century when the modern city was being built. The buildings at the time had metal skeletons covered with glass that had monumental proportions large interiors.

The first covered market was the Mercado de Santa Caterina from 1844. But the first purely modernist market to be conceived was Mercado del Born. It was followed by the Mercado de la Llibertat de Gracia (1875) and many more with the same characteristics, such as Sant Antoni (1882), and the ones located at la Barceloneta (1884), la Concepció and Hostafrancs (1888) as well as those at Clot, (1889), Gràcia, and la Abaceria (1892). Some of these were part of structured communities, making them vitally important for the sustainable growth of the cities.

Actually Barcelona currently is considered one of the most important market distribution networks in Europe, and each neighborhood has its own market.

Spaces with older structures are constantly being renewed. Some now offer services such as wifi, online shopping, home services, parking, points of information… New initiatives are being sought, for example:

• Neighborhood social activities that promote quality of life through a healthy diet
• Educational programs for children, with advice from experts in education and nutrition, that view markets having a role that is both social and economic and especially as a source of health through good nutrition.
• Scenic routes through the association of markets in Barcelona which provide a new approach to the learning about the history of the city (modern market route, landmark market route, new market route, and historic market route).

 

With its 43 municipal markets which have been or are being modernized and remodeled, Barcelona has created a market model (Modelo Mercado Barcelona) that is being exported both domestically and internationally, leading Emporion, the European Association of Markets, and entering the World Union of Wholsale Markets (WUWM). These are Competitive markets tailored to the needs of the citizens.

For more information, visit the website of the Markets of Barcelona: http://w110.bcn.cat/portal/site/Mercats/

 

 

Stroll through the markets and discover new tastes, textures, and smells. You´ll be able to prepare an excellent dinner in good company when you rent apartments in Barcelona