Shopping - Markets, Barcelona

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There is a food market off Las Ramblas that needs to be visited.

It is wonderful.

You can buy anything edible here

The locals shop here for fresh seafood and fish, vegetables, meat, and provisions.

Designed by the Catalan architect Enric Miralles it tries to be like La Boqueria Market inside. The most spectacular and nice part of this market are the roof, covered of coloured ceramic tiles.

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One of the nicest food markets I have been to; endless stalls offer delicious hanging chorizo, olives, cheese, fruit, fish, cured ham, etc. Stop at the seafood bar for garlicky prawns and a cold beer.
Open daily except Sundays, 8am - 8:30pm.

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The "Mercat de Santa Caterina" is a huge market hall in Barcelona, Spain with an extraordinary design. It's first inauguration was in the year 1848 and represented the first huge market of the city. It is located in Barcelona's quarter "La Ribera" in the old town - very close to the Cathedral. The new building of the market was finished in 2005 and is one of the latest architectonic treasures of the city.

As said before it is a market hall and you can buy lots of different goods and food. There are some cafés and snack bars inside. They also have a small exhibition from the Santa Caterina Convent (another tips) which was located under the market. The roof top is made of ceramic plates in a lot of colors and represent fruits and vegetables.

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On the square, just outside the Cathedral, you can find a small flea market. You can buy lot of small things like small statues, drinking glasses, mirrors, all those things you didn't know that you needed until you saw them on the table :)

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This market does not have the atmosphere of La Boqueria, but offers some good shopping. It is very easy to find, as it has an almost Gaudi-inspired roof.
The market has a more upmarket feel in one or other way.

The market opens at 07h30 in the morning, and closes on deifferent times in the afternoon/early evening (15h00 - 20h30)

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We were in dire need of 'cheap' English paperbacks when we found the marvelous hole in the wall' Elephant Book Shop. Lovely owner Sian (pictured) and dad run the shop. They bought our old books at I think 60 cents. Best are their 3 Euro bargain prices for most books and even LESS for ripped covers, not great condition paperbacks. Just a short metro ride from the Rambla. Say hi to Sian from Steve and Patty.

See our Elephant Shop YouTube video at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_x6BYPHPF-M

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If you want to know the people of a city, stroll through their open food markets. Right off of the frenzied street of Las Ramblas is La Boquería.

The market began sometime during the 1200, when the vegetable vendors would sell their goods there. Sometime in 1914 they erected the distinctive Art Nouveau metal roof, making it visual candy for every visitor.

The first shops that greet you are candy vendors with every gummy candy ever made, including the ones that look like over-easy eggs. Rainbow colored fruits and chocolate "something or another" dominate the front of the market, but in the recesses of the building you’ll find the cheese shops, seafood vendors, and the meat stores.

The meat of choice—pork in assorted states of being, but I couldn’t stop looking at the fresh skinned rabbits—sorry Bugs. Take your time and amble through the isles trying to figure out what all the new smells, shapes, and tastes belong to. You’ll come to know the Barcelonian style quickly and love it.

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The wonderful Mercat de la Boqueria is Barcelona's most famous and central food market. It is located about halfway down La Rambla, and its main entrance has an impressive steel-framed roof and big colourful sign. This is a busy market, filled with locals doing their daily/weekly shops and also plenty of tourists getting in their way whilst taking photos.

All manner of fresh produce is on sale here - the usual stuff, like fruit & veg, a good range of meats, decent selection of bread etc. It is a great place if you want to try out some of the local cheeses or hams - there are taste tests available.

There is some very unusual seafood for sale - we were particularly intrigued by the Percebes and the piles of spiky-shelled creatures. I was also impressed by the whole (dead) little piglets which looked like they were just having a nice nap.

Dotted throughout the market are several places to eat, so if you want to brush shoulders with some of the stallholders this is the place to dine.

If you're looking for some great underground thrift shopping check out the Raval district (located on the right of Las Ramblas if you're walking to the sea) You can get lost in there, which I recommend. One store in particular, I think its called Ibiza, has great thirft clothes. They do run a little steep and a lot of the stuff is from America but if you dig you can find amazing stuff.

There are other great little stores in the area - It also is an area with a ton of music shops and record stores - If you're looking to get your hands on some new music check out this neighborhood - also GREAT SHWARMA.