The Central Market of Valencia

"Upon entering Valencia's Central Market, the largest fresh produce market in Europe, my eye was first drawn upward into the light-filled dome of this vast volume. My nose, filled with scents of land and sea, quickly drew my attention down to the vendors who proudly display an extensive variety of fresh foods and products from this subtropical region with enthusiasm. Built in 1914 during the Valencian Art Nouveau period, Mercat Central bustles daily with shoppers, where piles of produce and paella pans have replaced the sacks of silk once sold across the street at La Lonja. Each morning, an extensive variety of fresh foods and crafted products arrive from this subtropical region. My eye was first drawn to the array of paella pans, some the diameter of truck tires, which hung for sale in the front plaza. Curious to see inside, we stepped into the vast, airy volume framed in iron and wood and decorated in colorful ceramics to navigate aisles of bustling stalls. Throughout the market, vendors called out in Spanish and Valenciano. We wove between colorful stands of fruits and vegetables, cheeses, spices, nuts, olives with hanging legs of jamón at one end, icy basins covered in fish and seafood at the other. The selection was beyond any of my regular trips to the grocery store or farmer's market at home. The quality was only equal to the “organic” labels sold in our high-end Californian markets. But this was the Valencian standard for quality at fair prices the people expect in this fruitful land."

"Mercat Central de València, or Central Market of Valencia, is one of the oldest and most iconic markets in Europe, located in the heart of Valencia's historic center. Built in the early 20th century, its stunning modernist architecture features a large dome and intricate details. Inside, visitors can explore a bustling marketplace filled with stalls offering a wide variety of fresh produce, meats, seafood, cheeses, spices, and gourmet products."

"Central Market is the largest market with fresh produce in Europe and it stands out for its rich and varied cuisine. This Valencia agora has more than 1200 stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables, especially oranges, tomatoes and beans. Meat, cheese, spices, nuts, spices fish, and seafood are just some of the other products on offer, yet it is the live eels that seem to catch everyone's attention."