Iron construction that houses one of the most typical and traditional food markets.
One of the obligatory tourist stops, given its location in the heart of Las Ramblas, it is perhaps the most emblematic of Barcelona’s markets. There is data of its existence from the year 1217, located in the open air, meat stalls were installed run by Jews and later by merchants, peasants and all kinds of merchants, who sold their products outside the city walls to save money. taxes.
The first stone of the current building was laid in 1836 and it was built in several stages, in 1913 the modernist arch of the entrance that overlooks the Ramblas was installed and it ceased to be open-air in 1914, when its spectacular vaulted ceiling was finished. of iron, both works by the architect Antoni Falgera.
Although the market suffers from an avalanche of tourists, its essence endures; the smells, colors, presentation of the stalls, the great variety of products, the shouting and everything that permeates it continue to give it this Mediterranean and popular air, where regular buyers gather; residents of the neighborhood and other districts or the chefs of the most prestigious restaurants in the city.
Curiosities:
– Where does the name Boquería come from?
– There are different theories regarding the meaning: There are those who say that the meaning is “butcher shop”, because of the meat cutter stalls there were.
– Another theory is that Ramón Berenguer IV had a large arabesque door brought from the conquest of the city of Almería and placed it at the entrance of Santa Eulalía. Those who came to buy were left “gape” when they saw the door, or as it is also said in Catalan “boquibadats”, or also Badots (fools).
– Although the most accepted theory is that it comes from kid meat, in Catalan “boc”, which was sold and consumed mainly by the Jewish community.
– It is one of the oldest and most visited markets in Europe.
– They almost shot him down
It was on the verge of being demolished in the 1960s under the mandate of Mayor Porcioles to build a parking lot, the important popular opposition and other sectors managed to prevent this project from being carried out.
