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

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Always packed with locals and tourists, this is the best seafood place if you want freshness and atmosphere. We had to wait for more than 20 mins for a chair, but it was more than worth it.

The food is just soooo delicious! We ordered a Mixed Seafood (seems like the most popular among tourists, especially those speaks little Spanish like us), 28 euro. A Spanish aubergine omellete, 3 euro (yum yum), and later a grilled cod, 8 euro. Next time I'd order a couple of separate dishes rather than one big Mixed Seafood, because I like some of them better than the other.

Major credit cards accepted. Closed on Sunday.

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As at other attractions, most of the products sold here possibly come from the same wholesaler, and the closer to the main entrance, the more expensive. So go further inside for a fresh juice at 1 euro rather than 1.5.

Juices! There are literally hundreds of different flavours on offer! But I only managed to try the Coconut one (oh yum!) because I was so full after a meal of seafood that I could hardly take in any more.

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I don´t know about you but I must see a marketplace in every city I visit. These places are like separate islands of life and charm. You may learn a lot about local cuisine as well, or simply admire wonderful fruits and vegetables or listen to local people and wonder how come they can talk so fast.
La Boqueria is not far - when you walk down La Rambla you´ll for sure bang into it on the right side.

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Colloquially known as "la Boqueria", Mercat Sant Josep takes its official name after the ancient Convent Sant Josep which existed on the site until the early 19th century. The convent was destroyed and this market took its place, and in the late 19th/early 20th century, the art nouveau steel structure was built to cover the market. La Boqueria is Barcelona's most popular local market where all sorts of regional fresh produce, meat and fish are sold. The market also has numerous food stalls which prepare excellent Catalan cuisine. Some of those stalls, such as Pinotxo, have become world famous after being featured on global television. Stop by at la Boqueria when visiting Barcelona and drink cava with your breakfast at one of the stalls.

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The market on the Ramblas is really worth a visit. The colours and smells of fresh fish, meat, fruit and sweets. it is just the place to buy fruit for a lunch on the sea front or in the parks.
lovely tasty prawns and a great colour for my photos! The market does get very busy so be careful of pickpockets while you wander around.