Mercat Boqueria, Barcelona

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When you are on vacation or holiday it is not always easy to figure out what day it is. We started out our Friday by going on a tour of the Bari Gotic (Old Town) district of Barcelona and then just spent the rest of the day wandering around that general area. We headed down a part of Las Ramblas, stopped in a couple of overpriced stores and then made our way over to the St Joseph La Boqueria.

We didn't spend a lot of time inside and since we had just eaten less then an hour before didn't get anything to eat, but it was fun walking through the covered marketplace and seeing all that they had to offer.

A little history of the marketplace says that you could actually tie this particular marketplace back to the 13th Century and then present version of the marketplace back to 1836. A metal roof was added back in 1914. So rain or shine take a venture in and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of one of Europe's oldest marketplaces.

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Mercat de la Boqueria is the famous marketplace in Las Ramblas where you can enjoy shopping some fruits, drinks, seafood, cheese and meat products. In some stalls, you can sit and try some local food. This is a crowded marketplace so beware the pickpockets.

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La Boqueria, a market, at one time an open air market set up against the city walls, today enclosed and what a market, La Boqueria even has a website in 4 languages, go take a look.
But ALL the markets we visited in Barri Gotic, Ribera and Barceloneta, do have one thing in common, they are "uncommonly" clean and neat.
I believe that if you look into the food, sale, preparation and consumation, you look into the HEART of a people. How they handle the food here in the markets of Barcelona is great to see, everything is displayed tastefully and best of all it is spick and span (clean and neat).
The photos show:
1) The entrance to the market from Rambla Street.
2) Fresh and dried mushrooms on display.
3) Fresh fruit stalls.
4) Eggs, of all sizes (that is an ostrich egg in back with the price on it).
5) Fresh fruit and dried fruits and nuts.

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This is one of the MUST do for anyone coming to Barcelona ... this market is world known, the food here is awesome !!!! There is about 300 stalls offering just about everything .... we came early and spent about an hour here before the cruise ship people invaded the market .... Make this a high priority on your thing to in Barcelona. Be on your guard this is a pick pockets dream ... space is tight so there is a lot of bumping into people.

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Although or because they have something folcloric, I love old market halls. I some places, they really lack life, but the Mercat de La Boquería is one of the fullest and lifeliest I have seen. The Halls of “Boquería”, as it is often shortly called, were designed in the mid-19th century. The famous art nouveau portal facing the Ramblas is from 1914 and was designed by Antoni de Falguera e Sivilla. Markets on this place have existed in several forms since around 1200. The additional name “St. Josep” comes from a former convent was pulled down in 1835. Most of the market space stands on the place of the former convent, hence the name.
Take your time to stroll through the halls and get an impression of all the fruits, the smells and the noise. It's another world, if you compare it to the Ramblas. Come in and buy some fresh fruits or enjoy the atmosphere of the market hall in one of the cafés, restaurants or snack bars. If you are in Barcelona, you should order seafood, of course! It's a far better experience than an overpriced restaurant at Las Ramblas.

The Boqueria Market has been the site of a thriving market since about 1200. Its present incarnation was begun in 1840. In 1914 the iron structure you see today was begun. The market is massive and hosts sellers of meat, vegetables, specialty foods, fish, frozen foods, and birds. I am a connoisseur of olives and found a fantastic stall selling gourmet olives just inside the main entrance. This is a food lover’s paradise!

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Mercat de Sant Josep, Mercado de La Boqueria is one large building with hundreds of food vendors to excite and delight every palate. This is the place to be if you are looking for something to eat, drink, or purchase the ingredients to fulfill a gourmet's desires no matter what tastes are needing satisfied.

Each stall or store has colorful vendors who will help you make decisions on what's good and what's great. Hey, you can just wander the aisles and browse the many displays before you. But, most likely one of the stalls has just the thing that will cure your hum. Many times, one of the best tourist sights in a city, is the market. Barcelona is no exception, even with all the Gaudi buildings and artworks to see, the market still is a must see.

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One of the must see in Barcelona. This market is one of the best I'v seen and been to, every counter is an atraction in itself. There are frash meats, fish, seafood, nuts, candy and of course fruit. You can buy there a box with all kinds of fruit, fresh guice for 1-2 euro.

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The Boqueria Market is quite a sight and an experience I will never forget. The displays of fruits, candies and nuts are just amazing-the colors are unbelievable- the layout is actually very artistic. Of course, some of the most overwhelming parts of the market are the meats and fish sections. I seen some of the most bizaare meats, skinned animals, tongue, bull testicles and who knows what else, that I have ever seen. It is actually sensory overload with the smells and sights-but I loved it.

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Do look up at the beautiful sign before entering the market.
This is a food market with plenty of fresh produce to choose from. Fresh fruit, meat, fish, sweets etc van be bought here. Although many tourists visit the market, it seems that is still a popular place for locals to do shopping.

Open 08h00 to 20h30, Mon – Sat

No entrance fee