I was hungry when I arrived in Valencia from Madrid.
It was not easy to walk from the train station to the hotel passing by dozens of restaurants buzzing with patrons. Then, it seems like everybody likes to advertise their offerings with a bigger than life poster. Again, it was not simple to walk by all those delicious offerings with a grumbling stomach.
Once we were arriving at the hotel, we passed by a big Modernist building. I recognize it in three seconds. It was the Mercat Central (or Central Market).
It is easy to deduct what happened next in this story. Luggage was dropped into a storage room (it was still early) and we proceeded to walk back to the market.
We were absorbed by natural light, poignant smells and a burst of color once we were inside.
The market’s building is a masterpiece of Modernist architecture. It was designed in 1914 by Francisco Gardia and Alejandro Soler, both trained at the School of Architecture of Barcelona. The place was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1928.
It is one of the oldest markets in Europe still running.
The Mercat Central de Valencia covers exactly 8,160 square meters divided into two areas or zones. The first one is an irregular shape with a surface area of 6,760 square meters and the other, which is octagonal and covers 1,400 square meters, houses the fish market. The basement, which has 7,690 square meters, was previously a fish auction and is now used as a car park.
The Mercat Central brings together almost 400 small traders and 1,500 people are involved in its daily activity. It is the largest center of its kind in Europe specializing in fresh products and the first market in the world to rise to the challenge of computerizing sales and offering home delivery, services which have been available since October 1996.
I would not like to use cliché wording but, honestly, this is a must visit in Valencia. It is located almost directly across the Silk Exchange (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and can be combined with a walk around the Ciutat Vella (Old Town).
But, do not take my word about how interesting this place is. I’ll let you be the judge.
Roasted pumpkin is a regional delicatessen.
These are chufas or tiger nuts. They are used to prepare Valencia’s famous oxchata (or horchata, which, by the way, is delicious).
Never seen potatoes so colorful.
I like the look of these candied oranges.
Details
- The market is open Monday to Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
More of Valencia
Valencia: City of Arts and Sciences
Would you like to visit this market?
Pin “Valencia’s Mercat Central” for later!
Bumble Bee Mum says
Of course I would like to visit this market! I would have grabbed those minion and Peppa Pig cookies.
You seem to always be hungry when you’re on vacation… Just like me.. Lol. You should come to Singapore some day, I will bring you everywhere to eat.
Ruth says
Hey, I think we have a deal. Singapore is one of my dream destinations. If I make plans, I will let you know for sure.
Bumble Bee Mum says
I look forward to it! 😀
susanna says
That market looks amazing. Lovely pics. x
Ruth says
Thanks! It is always a pleasure to stroll around markets.
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) says
What a beautiful market building!#travel tuesday
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
I love wandering round markets and this sounds even more impressive than most, love the history behind it too. Thanks for joining up with #citytripping
Ruth says
This is proof that Spain takes its markets seriously. I visited at least one at every city I visited there. They were all great.
image-in-ing: weekly photo linky says
Oh wow – this place looks amazing! I bet it is full of wonderful ways to tempt the senses – taste, smell, touch, etc. I would love to visit!
Thanks for YOUR visit to http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/01/shells-on-shells.html
Photo Cache says
OMG, so envious. If there is one place I’d seek out in a city, it’s the marketplace. I know that it’s where you can sample not only the local delicacies but the best of what the city can offer as well.
Happy New Year!
Ruth says
I agree with you. I am sure you have noticed the amount of market related posts I have in this blog. I can be talking entire days about the experiences I have has in markets.
Kay Davies says
What an amazing market! It’s so big…it made me think of the market in Barcelona, but I think this one is even bigger. And I’ve never seen potatoes that colour, either.
Kay
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travels
Ruth says
Yes, you are referring to La Boqueria. I think Valencia’s market is bigger (and less crowded). The think with this market is that you can find a lot of regional goods. I saw things I have never seen before.
Life Images by Jill says
wow what a fabulous market. I love visiting markets when we travel – they really take you to the essence of the country.
Happy travels.
S George says
This looks like an awesome market!
Ruth says
I know. Thanks for stopping by!
Lyndall @ Seize The Day Project says
The Market looks fascinating and all that food is simply delicious. I should get a snack before I read your posts Ruth! 🙂
budget jan says
The market building is gorgeous. I’d definitely shop there. We usually self-cater when we travel so I would have been looking to buy the gorgeous looking tomatoes and the spotty potatoes (I love different types of both of those things) and the creamy cheese (dips?). I’m always budget conscious so I would then select some meat that was a good price. Shopping at markets in another Country is such fun.
Ruth says
We tried several things in here. We even brought back some food related items from a specialty supplier. In addition, we sat down to have pastries and coffee. my husband tried something called Cola Cao (a chocolate drink).
Trekking with Becky says
That is a gorgeous, CLEAN market! 😀 When I get to Valencia one of these days, thanks to you, I’ll stop here, especially since it’s a stone’s throw from the Silk Exchange.
Thanks for bringing me here, and I’m looking forward to my next trip with you! 😀
Ruth says
Becky, thanks for your words. Isn’t the world amazing? It is great that we can learn about different parts of the planet from one another. Blogging allows us to do that. I am looking forward to discovering new places from the perspective of other bloggers.
Shanna says
Id love to visit this market some day! Everything looked so delicious and those are definitely the most colorful potatoes I’ve ever seen. Pinning this for later!
Ruth says
Thanks Shanna! At first, I wasn’t sure if those were potatoes. I thought they were a fruit. After closer inspection, I realized they were potatoes.
Cat says
I always love checking out local markets whenever I travel! Those minion cookies are cute!
Ruth says
Me too! It is something that you can do for free and it never gets boring. I am into food halls too.
Sophie says
Roasted pumpkin and candied oranges for me, please 🙂
Ruth says
Those two things are specialties of the area. That pumpkin tasted delicious.
Brooke of Passport Couture says
I always love markets, and visiting this one would be at the top of my list! I enjoy seeing what local booths have to offer and I was intrigued to learn that it is one of the first places that provide home delivery service!
Kathy Marris says
Nothing like a stroll through a food market in another country and Mercat Central certainly offers a lot of variety. I love the spotty potatoes!
Ruth says
I wish I could have tasted those potatoes. I have tried purple ones and they are very sweet (taste almost like yams). I guess for potato variety, I have to go to Peru.
Paula McInerney says
Love the markets in Valencia, and love that many of the cafes around them say that you can go to the markets, pick and ingredients, and they will cook it into something for you.
Ruth says
We can do that in our town’s fish market. We usually get two fish and baby squids. They fry or grill them and serve them with lemons and other sides.
Anda says
What a coincidence, Ruth! We both wrote about European food markets this week. There is nothing like browsing through a food market. I’d love to visit Mercat Central in Valencia.
Ruth says
I had the same thought! When I went to Italy, I din’t visit any of the markets. What can I say? I was in my early 20s and I realize how I messed up on that. I need to go back and fix my mistake.
Jen says
What an amazing place! I love places like that – I think I’d be overwhelmed with all the choices! We really have nothing like that around here. The French Market in the New Orleans might be the closest but it’s nothing like that.
Thank you for sharing with us at Photo Friday!
Ruth says
We do no have something like this close to where I like neither. What we have are farmers markets but it is not the same feeling. Markets are one of the features I adore form Europe.
Lyn (aka) The Travelling Lindfields says
I love the colourful potatoes. We don’t have them in Australia. Markets are great places to explore when you are travelling.
Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault says
Wow – I love a good market and an indoor one as good as this looks would be on my itinerary. I want to find out what variety those potatoes were now and grow them. I grew some called Apache 2 years ago but they had more red on them.
Wander Mum says
Mouthwatering pictures. I love a good food market and the Spanish do them so well! Thank you for linking to #citytripping
Ruth says
You are right! The Spanish master their markets pretty well. I had a blast visiting them.
Natasha says
Love the look of the markets, and the architecture there – beautiful! I love those close-up shots of the fruits too. You always take lovely photos Ruth. – Tasha
Ruth says
Thanks Tasha. I love to take a close look at the offerings.
RobRob@TravelLatte(.net) says
What I would really like is to move in next door to Mercat Central! Admittedly, I will fall in love with almost any great market, but…ooh, I want to try everything you pictured. Especially Oxchata and pumpkin. Now I just have to find a short cut to get to Spain! 🙂 #WeekendWanderlust
Ruth says
That is a great idea. I would be happy to stroll around before work. They have tons of cafes surrounding the area.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour says
What a fantastic market. I gorgeous building with everything and anything to wet the appetite inside.
Ruth says
I had my eyes on a stall selling Greek food. Sadly, we arrived too late the day we wanted to try it.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
This makes me miss the wet markets in Malaysia where I used to shop, although my local one cannot compare in size. I like the variety of goods at the Mercat Central. Are those candied WHOLE oranges? That’s what it looked like. I would have to load up on lunch before shopping or else I’d end up buying way too much.
Ruth says
I believe they are whole candied oranges. At first, I was hesitant to believe they were candied like that but they truly were.
Marcia says
I love visiting markets when I travel! It must be a delight to work in such a gorgeous building – at least I hope so. I’d love some candied oranges.
Ruth says
The beautiful building seemed to influence the vendors attitude. Everybody was really nice.
Linda Bibb says
You never know what you’re going to discover when you read a post online. I had never heard of tiger nuts until today so of course I had to google it.
Turns out that tiger nuts are actually NOT nuts, they are a tuber that grows below the ground’s surface, just like potatoes and peanuts. They come from the sedge family. They have all of the nutrients and energy benefits of nuts, are low carb, and are safe for people with gluten and tree nut allergies. I think I am gonna have to get some of those.
Ruth says
There is no doubt that you are going to learn a lot reading other blogs. The tiger but itself does not have a lot of flavor (they give you samples). However, when it is super delicious when used to prepare the horchata.
Elaine J. Masters says
Food markets are so incredible and such a great window into the local world. I love your pictures and long to visit Valencia.
Ruth says
Thanks Elaine! Hope you make it to Valencia one day.
pc says
I must visit this one of the oldest markets in Europe! See the architecture, find tiger nuts and the colorful potatoes! I think i will spend a great morning there and lug back bags to try cooking the local food;).
Surprising it was not crowded at all!
Ruth says
The crowds in Valencia are nothing compared to the hordes of people in Madrid and Barcelona. Therefore, it feels like the city is yours to enjoy.
Juergen | dare2go says
I love the architecture of old market halls with their exposed steel structure. So many have fallen in disrepair or are used as inner city warehousing (if they are still standing at all) – good to see one which is still the vibrant food market of a city the size of Valencia!
Ruth says
I think Valencia would not be the same without its market.
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats says
I have never been to Valencia but the market looks great! Love to walk through markets to see all the local foods in any new city:)
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats says
I have never been to Valencia but the market looks great! I would definitely want to visit if I was there. I love to see all the local foods at markets in any new city.
Johanna Bradley says
Where would I start? Valencia looks to be a fine city too 🙂
Ruth says
Thanks Johanna. Valencia is tons of fun. Especially, the food ;0)
Corinne says
Ruth, Although I’ve not been to the Valencia market, I can close my eyes and imagine the smells, sounds, and many tastes. Boy, do I wish I was there!
Thanks for linking up with #wkendtravelinspiration!
Ruth says
The mercado is great. Looking at the photos I feel transported too. It would be great to be able to visit a market daily (or at least a couple of days a week).
Lauren says
I love Valencia’s central market! It’s so colorful and bright, so much fun to walk around and admire all of the fresh food! Your pictures capture it beautifully 😀
Ruth says
Thanks Lauren! I always knew the market was a must see. However, it exceeded my expectations. What a beautiful place!
Vlad says
Definitely not something to see while I’m waiting for my food delivery, haha. I had such a lovely time in Valencia, I’ve been thinking a lot about going back soon.
Ruth says
Yes, I know. Not a post to see while hungry or waiting for food. I would like to go back to Valencia too. Well, in reality, I would like to move to Spain ;0)
Holly says
I love going to a market when I am in a new city – it really helps you get a feel for the place! I would definitely have to try that roasted pumpkin, I bet it is delicious!
Ruth says
Oh yeah! The pumpkin was delicious!
The Jetset Boyz says
For us, one of the joys of travelling is trying new food & regional specialities. Paella originates in the Valencia region, so when we were there last October we decided to a Paella making experience. We spent a fun half day with a paella master learning the secrets of authentic Paella Valenciana.
To get things started was a trip to Mercat Central to buy our ingredients. It was absolutely fascinating to hear the history and traditions of the market whilst going from stall to stall buying our ingredients.
Now we’re hooked and look to do at least one cooking experience in each city we visit. Recently in Barcelona we did two. It’s so much fun, and you get to meet some really fab people.