La Boqueria Market

The Boqueria Market is the most emblematic in Barcelona and one of the most well-known markets worldwide. Its long history has always been linked to La Rambla in a way that one cannot be understood without the other.

In 1777, the Boqueria portal was demolished, and the butcher shops were moved to the side of the orchard of the convent of Sant Josep, also on La Rambla, beginning a long pilgrimage to different points - not too far from each other - on the promenade or its surroundings.

In 1835, the Sant Josep convent was destroyed, and a porticoed square similar to Plaza Reial began to be built in its place. The Plaça del Treball was intended to be the largest square in Barcelona, but when everything was ready to start the works, the market was temporarily installed on the site. The provisional nature turned into the current location of the market when the Barcelona City Council, in 1836, planned the construction of the market. Discussions about the extension of the complex and the volume of the buildings delayed the project, which began to be executed on March 19, 1840. That same year it was inaugurated, and for years it continued to have small improvements such as gas lighting (1871) or the fish market in its current location (1911).

In 1913, the modernist arch by architect A. De Falguera was installed at the main entrance, and in 1914, the metallic cover built by La Maquinista Terrestre i Marítima was inaugurated, and from then on, improvements and modernization of services began. The last reform was inaugurated in 2001.
The market has a total area of 6089 m2, of which 2583 m2 are commercial uses.

Currently, La Boqueria is a must-visit for both locals and tourists. Its history is linked to the lively history of the city, to traditions, and to our gastronomy.