The Central Market

The Mercat Central, Europe’s largest fresh produce market, tells the story of a Valencia that was in the process of rapid economic and technological advancement, a city whose bourgeoisie were ever more eager to modernise. But it also tells the story of a city that did not intend to leave behind its commitment to well-established agricultural traditions.

The Mercat (or Mercado) Central has been listed as one of the most beautiful markets in the world by recognised institutions, like the BBC .

Even though the building itself is only around 100 years old, its tradition dates back to the time Valencia was still named Balansiya, under Moorish rule, 900 years ago.

The current structure, a modernist work of art, was revealed to be a costly and time-consuming project at the time of its construction. Nonetheless, it was a cherished project, symbolising and showcasing the city’s increasing wealth and its industrial-architectural advancement.

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We can clearly see this in the ceramics and glass work, in the masterful locksmithing and carpentry the building offers. As art historian Daniel Benito puts it, the market “was treated like a cathedral of food. The grandiose nature of the building’s upper portion matches the quality of the produce sold beneath”.

The Market is now one of the most visited and emblematic buildings in the city. It brings together the city’s pride in agricultural traditions and love for its farmlands, as well as the city’s taste for modernist art.

This makes the Market a cultural centre that goes beyond just trade. In fact, various culinary events, as well as art, music, and literature exhibitions have been held here throughout the years.

Even if you are not interested in buying or trying any food (which you should, at least a small bite), the Mercat Central is still an incredible building to visit.

The glass domes and windows, the iron frame and colourful tiles offer amazing photo opportunities. Aside from its historical and architectural value, the Market will also give you the chance to experience a snippet of Valencian life, just like a local.

Opening Hours

The Market is only open during the week, in the morning and early afternoon. Access to the Central Market is always free and there are no tickets.  

Market Map

Due to the Mercat’s size, it can be useful to have a look at the map. This is especially true if you’re looking for a specific product or stand.

You’ll notice that to help you navigate this large building, the aisles have been given different names, just like streets in a city.

Location

The Mercat is located right in the heart of Valencia’s city centre, in the Ciutat Vella, the Old Town. It is right in front of the Lonja de la Seda and next to the Santos Juanes church, slightly west of Plaça de la Reina and the Cathedral.

The Market’s eastern side overlooks the Plaça del Mercat street, while the back of the Market, to the west, looks towards Avinguda de l’Oest.

How to Get There

Because of its location, the Market is rather easy to reach. If you are in the city centre or close to it already, we highly recommend you walk or bike there. If you are in a different part of the city, you might want to take public transport.

By Metro or Tram

There are a few stops not far from the Central Market. Depending on where you are located, one or the other might be more convenient.

Àngel Guimerà is one of the most important stops in Valencia, as five lines (1, 2, 3, 5, 9) meet at this stop. The stop is only 650 m (8-minute walk, 0.4 miles) west of the Central Market (view map)

Your other two options are south of the Market. They are Xàtiva (view map), the metro stop in front of the main train station, and Colón (view map). They are respectively 750 m away (9-minute walk, a little over 0.4 miles) and 850 m away (11-minute walk, 0.5 miles) from the Market.

For detailed information about how this system works, you can read our article about the metro and trams in Valencia.

By Bus

There are various buses stopping by the Market. They will all drop you off at the back of the building, where you can enter from the rear doors.

For detailed information about tickets and how to get them, you can read our article about buses in Valencia.

Here you have a summary of the bus lines, routes, and stops you should use to reach the Central Market.

By Taxi

Cabs are obviously the most expensive option to move around the city, and in this case, they are not the most comfortable way to get to your destination.

As the Market is so central, we would only recommend this means of transport if your departure point is quite far from the old quarters, maybe in the outskirts of the city.

It is normally quite easy to hail a taxi in the street in Valencia, but other options are also booking through a mobile app or through a phone call.

See detailed information on this in our article about taxis in Valencia.

By Bike

Valencia is a very bike-friendly city, so we always recommend exploring it this way.

On the official map, you’ll see that there are bike paths circling the city’s old quarters. You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as there is enough room for people to walk.

On the same map, you will also see that there are two Valenbisi stations right by the Market, and many others not too far away.

This complex is also a very popular stop for many bike tours offered in the city. This way you won’t be able to stop and visit the interior, but you’ll see how to get there from other parts of the city centre.

If you want to know more about cycling in the city, read our article about biking in Valencia.

By Scooter

Electric scooters are an ever-more popular transport solution in Valencia. They are ideal if you want to move independently around the city and you don’t want to get stuck in traffic, but you don’t like cycling or walking.

Many scooter-sharing companies offer rental plans that let you pay per minute of use and nothing else.

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You can park and drive your scooter within a designated area in the city’s urban zone. Generally, you are not allowed to park in the Old Town, and the Central Market is right in the middle of it.

You will thus need to park nearby, just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

If you want to know more about this, you can check out our article about electric scooter rentals in Valencia.

On Foot

Given that the Central Market is right in the middle of the city’s old quarters, it is normal that reaching it on foot is not difficult at all. In fact, if you are in the centre, going on foot is likely the easiest option.

From Estación del Norte, located at the southern end of the city centre, the Market is only 750 m away (about 820 yards –9-minute walk–). To reach it you will simply have to walk north, towards the heart of the Old Town.

From the Serranos towers, at the northern edge of the centre, you will similarly have to walk 700 m (about 765 yards or –9-minute walk–). This time, you will find the Market south of your position.

If you want to get some interesting information while walking through the city centre, we have created self-guided itineraries that you can enjoy at your own pace. We have a wide selection of themed tours that include the Mercat Central. If this sounds like something you could enjoy, feel free to take a look at our Northleg itineraries.

Useful Tips for Your Visit

Here are our recommendations and tips to make sure that you make the most of your experience and you don’t miss out on anything the Mercat Central has to offer.

• If you want to admire the structure in peace, we suggest you go before midday, as around lunchtime the Market can get pretty busy and noisy, especially on Saturdays.
• If you want to go to the restrooms, you can find them on the underground level. Remember to bring a coin (€0.50) for the turnstile gates.
• The majority of the stands have a card reader for you to purchase products without cash. However, we always recommend you have at least some cash on you, in case of small purchases or malfunction of the machines.
• There is a car park (Centre Històric-Mercat Central Parking) with more than 300 spaces directly below the Market. Pedestrian access is through the underground floor of the Market itself, while the car access is through Calle Guillem Sorolla.
• Through a point system, you can get one hour of free parking if you purchase products in the Market. For more info, you can check the Market’s info page .
• If you visit the Market during the festivities, like Christmas, you’ll find that the space has been decorated in theme with the holiday, usually with ornaments hanging from the ceiling.
• The Market is quite big, and once you’re inside it can be difficult to find your way around it. In fact, it is so big that the aisles inside even have their own names, as if they were streets. For this reason, if you are looking for a specific product or stand, we suggest you check the map.

Curiosities

For a building that is relatively new, there is no scarcity of stories and legends surrounding the Mercat Central. Some of them have even entered local folklore, becoming part of plays and novels by Valencian authors and artists.

The Last Execution

Throughout history, the space occupied by the Market has been used for various purposes, but one, in particular, reminds us of the many bloody pages of Spanish history. In 1826, Gaietà Ripoll, the last victim of the Spanish Inquisition, was executed here for heresy.

Gaietà Ripoll, a schoolmaster in Valencia, was accused of being a deist and of teaching his students about deism. Deism is the belief that the existence of God is revealed through nature and rational thought, without any reliance on religious authority.

The clergymen of the Spanish Inquisition requested he be burned at the stake for his religious offences. However, the civil authority chose to hang him instead.

The Legend of the Parrot and the Sparrow

The weathervane that crowns the biggest dome has its own name, the Cotorra del Mercat (Market parrot, in English). Many think that the figure alludes to the gossip that has always been common in markets.

In fact, legend has it that the parrot and its neighbour, the Pardal de Sant Joan (the sparrow weathervane of the Santos Juanes church) comment on the events of the city from above.

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These figures appear in many Valencian plays and other popular works, reflecting the perfect contrast between the secular and mundane (the parrot) and the spiritual and divine (sparrow).

Abandoned Children

A much sadder story regarding the Market is the one about the abandoned children. In times of poverty, many peasants came from the countryside down to Valencia in search of a better life. Many came with their children, in the hopes that they could find a job and bring back money for the family.

It is said that when a child would not succeed, the parent would choose not to bring them back home, in order to spare them a life of poverty. The parent would go into the Market and disappear among the stalls, while the child was waiting outside.

After many hours, the child would start crying and running between the stalls. As this was not an unusual sight, it was common for well-off merchants in the Market to take pity on them and bring them home.

The Crocodile

Another curious story has to do with the basement of the market. A legend that circulated for years said that when night fell and the hustle and bustle of customers and merchants died down, weird noises could be heard coming from the basement of the building.

No one has ever wanted to go and check for themselves, but the common belief was that the sounds were in fact those of a crocodile, roaring and moving around the basement of the Market.

The legend grew so much that some people have even claimed to have seen the beast. Of course, the story has been refuted, but it still makes for an interesting urban legend.

Brief History

The origins of the current Central Market can be traced back to the era of the Muslim rule in the peninsula. This is true not only in terms of the market itself but also in a broader sense, as the conditions and agricultural legacy out of which the Market was born, flourished in the Moorish era.

In a more tangible sense, the market itself was born under Muslim rule. Back then, a market was held in the Boatella neighbourhood of Valencia, where merchants would set up their stalls and food stands by the city’s walls.

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For centuries, the tradition has continued to grow, right up to the present day, when you can enjoy the biggest fresh produce market in Europe here in Valencia.

Establishment of the Huerta (800-900)

The Huerta’s agricultural lands and their elaborate irrigation systems were established in the countryside surrounding Valencia by the Moorish kings.

This tradition, one of many important legacies left by the Muslim occupation of Spain, has since been at the heart of the Valencian economy, folklore and culture.

Market Stalls (900-1200)

Under Muslim rule, up until the 13th century, merchants used to set up their booths just outside the city walls.

Re-authorisation of the Market (Mid-1200s)

After the Reconquista, mid-13th century, the various Christian kings started slowly authorising the market again.

Growth of the Market (1300-1800)

The market continued to grow until it was integrated as part of the city centre.

Plot of Land Becomes Available (1838)

The Convent of Las Magdalenas was demolished, leaving a free plot of land where the Market would be built.

Mercado Nuevo (1839)

The Mercado Nuevo or Mercado de los Pórticos, was inaugurated on the same site. It was an open-air space with a small portico, and it soon became too small for the increasing demand from the growing bourgeois population.

Central Market Project (1910)

The City Council launched a competition to select a new market project.

Beginning of works (1914)

The construction of the Market really began, after a number of political and financial setbacks.

Inauguration (1928)

The Central Market as we know it today was inaugurated.

Architectural Elements and Style

Architecturally, the Central Market clearly represents the spirit of early 20th century Valencia, a city ever more committed to progress and technological advancement.

These characteristics can be found in what many describe as an Art Nouveau cathedral of commerce, in its modernist structure and allegorical decorations.

The Structure

The Market covers a total surface area of 8 160 square metres (approximately 87 834 square feet). To adapt to the plot of land it occupies, the floor plan takes the shape of an irregular polygon with fourteen sides. The roof creatively resolves the irregularities of the structure by means of sloping roofs and domes. The largest of the two is 30 metres (about 98 feet) high.

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The inside is divided into two areas, one, the biggest, for the sale of garden and other market products, the other one for the sale of fresh fish.

Aside from this, since its first days, the Market has included the underground area. At the time of construction, this dedicated space for loading and unloading goods away from the crowded streets constituted a novelty. Nowadays, the space also acts as a car park.

The Style and Decorative Elements

The building is adorned, both in the interiors and the exteriors, by the combination of wrought iron, stained glass, ceramics, and stone. Overall, the architecture is reminiscent of other Art-Nouveau structures, like the Estación del Norte.

Typical of this style is the integration of industrial materials like iron, with delicate, natural forms, like the ones found in the glass and ceramic decorations of the building.

These elements are present throughout. On the perimeter walls, for example, we can already find exposed brickwork and metal shutters together with colourful ceramic plinths and reflecting glass.

Inside, the building’s tall columns and domes, their elongated and elegant lines confer the Central Market a Gothic taste. The stained glass windows of the façade in particular, let the light in through the Valencian flag colours.

References to the orchards and gardens of Valencia can be found in the decorative elements, like the wrought iron on the entrance columns and arches, as well as the stained glass, often representing the sinuous curves of plants and flowers.

There are two domes, the biggest and central one with a circular basis, and a smaller one to the side, with an elliptic basis. The one in the central area is crowned by a weather vane in the shape of a parrot perched on a royal crown. On top of the other dome, above the fish market section, stands a swordfish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find quick answers to all of your questions. Linked, you’ll find the articles or the sections of the articles that can give you more detailed information.

What is the Mercado Central?

The Mercado Central is Valencia’s Central Market, a fresh and local produce market. It is one of the most well known Art Nouveau buildings in the city.

What is the Mercado Central known for?

The Central Market in Valencia is known for its beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and for being the largest fresh produce market in Europe.

What can I do in Mercado Central?

Aside from enjoying the stunning architecture and admiring the detailed decoration, you can spend a few hours browsing the market and trying out local products or tapas.

Can I find local food and drinks in Mercado Central?

Aside from fresh veggies, fruit, meat, fish, and local products, in Valencia’s Central Market you’ll also find plenty of food and drinks. Especially towards the front of the building (facing Lonja de la Seda) you’ll find local wines and spirits, as well as plenty of tapas stalls.

What’s the style of the Mercado Central in Valencia?

Valencia’s Central Market is one of the main examples in Valencia of Art Nouveau. The structure combines typically modernist materials, such as wrought iron, stained glass, ceramics, and brick, with rich allegorical decorations.

When was the Mercado Central built?

Although Valencia’s Central Market was built between 1914 and 1928, the traditions that brought it to life date back to the 9th century AD.

What is the best way to get to the Mercado Central?

If you are in Ciutat Vella, the best way to reach Valencia’s Central Market is probably to go on foot, or if you prefer, on a bike. If you’d like to know more about transport, you can check out the relevant section of this article.

What are the Mercado Central’s opening times?

The Mercado Central is open Monday to Saturday year round.

The opening hours are between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm.

You can have a look at each of them in the relevant section of this article.

How much does it cost to visit the Mercado Central?

Access to the Mercat Central is always free.

Can I bike to the Mercado Central?

Of course you can. Valencia is an extremely bike friendly city, and on the official map, you’ll see that there are bike paths circling the city’s old quarters. You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as there is enough room for people to walk.

If you’d like to know more about traffic rules and norms in Valencia, you can check out our article about cycling in Valencia.

What buses take me to Mercado Central?

There are various buses stopping by the Central Market in Valencia. They will all drop you off at the back of the building, where you can enter from the rear doors.

Lines 7, 27, 60, 62, and 73 all drop you off by the Central Market.

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s bus system, you can check out our article about it.

What metro lines take me to the Mercado Central?

You can take metro lines 1, 2, 3, 5, or 9 to go to Valencia’s Central Market. Depending on where you are located, one or another stop might be more convenient. Your options are Àngel Guimerà (lines 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9), Xàtiva (lines 3, 5, 9), and Colón (lines 3, 5, 7, and 9).

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s metro system, you can read our article about it.

What tram lines take me to the Mercado Central?

Trams are not your best option to get to the Central Market. The closest stop is line 10’s Alacant, which is 13 minutes away (south) of the Market.

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s tram network, you can check out our article about it.

Are there any Valenbisi stations near Mercado Central?

Of course. There are two Valenbisi stations right by the Market, and many others not too far away.If you’d like to know more about Valenbisi, you can check out our article about it.

Can I drive and park an electric scooter near the Mercado Central?

Generally, you are not allowed to park a rental electric scooter in the Old Town, and the Central Market is right in the middle of it.

You will thus need to park nearby, just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

You can learn more about electric scooters and how to get one in Valencia in our dedicated article.

Nearby Places of Interest

Being in the very heart of the Old Town, the Central Market is rather close to many of Valencia’s landmarks and important buildings.