Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona is a huge public market and a popular landmark for locals and visitors alike, offering fresh foods, handmade crafts and more unusual fare. It bills itself as "the best market in the world," and has a focus on fresh food and produce.
In addition to fresh and prepared foods, you can find proud traders of all different offerings. You can also take cooking classes, hear guest speakers, and spend the day learning about local culture and even hundreds of years of history in an environment with friendly and welcoming staff who are eager to please.
Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona - one of the highlights of Most Instagrammable Places in Barcelona and 10 Best Markets in Spain (Read all about Barcelona here)
photo by Thingstodoinbarcelona (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified
The story of Mercat de la Boqueria
The first evidence of a market on this site dates all the way back to 1217 CE, when reports confirmed the presence of a street market focused on selling goat meat. By 1470, it became a pig market, and up through 1794 it became known as a straw market.
The market was not legally recognized, however, until 1826 when the city formalized the current location, which originally housed fishmongers and butchers. The roof that is on the market today dates to 1914. Now, the market sells everything from meat to local produce, prepared foods, candied fruit and other items.
Good to know about Mercat de la Boqueria
While you can find many varieties of goods at Mercat de la Boqueria, it is heavily focused on food. This is a farmer's market more than any sort of arts and crafts venue. It's the place to come if you want to discover a wide range of produce, meats, spices and ingredients to whet your appetite for authentic Spanish cuisine.
The market is family-friendly, and the vendors and locals are all quite welcoming and willing to answer any questions you might have. As one of the more popular markets in Barcelona, however, it can get somewhat crowded at times, so keep that in mind when visiting.
Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona
Location: Rambla, 91 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Open: Monday–Saturday from 8 am to 8.30 pm (closed on Sundays)
Phone: +34 (0)934 13 23 03
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