Mercado Central
A thousand stalls under a 1928 modernist dome of iron, glass and ceramic.
Duration
45 min – 1 hr 30 min
Best time
Weekday mornings
Open
Closed Sunday
Entry price
Free
The hall was completed in 1928, in iron, glass and ceramic, in the Valencian modernista style — cousin to Catalan modernism. It covers eight thousand square metres under a dome, making it one of the largest covered markets in Europe.
It has stayed a fresh-produce market: around a thousand stalls, run by traders, with fruit and vegetables from the Valencian huerta, charcuterie, and a separate fish hall. This is where you buy bomba rice and saffron for a real paella — Valencian paella is made with chicken and rabbit, not seafood.
Getting there
Plaça de la Ciutat de Bruges, in the historic centre, opposite the Lonja de la Seda.
Hours
Closed Sunday
Rules on site
Closed on Sunday, and from early afternoon the rest of the week. The Lonja de la Seda, the UNESCO-listed silk exchange, is directly opposite and is done straight after.
