After a decade-long renovation completed in 2015, the Mercat de Sant Antoni returned to Barcelona’s Eixample as one of the most spectacular market spaces in Spain. Built between 1876 and 1882 to designs by Antoni Rovira i Trias, the iron and glass structure occupies an entire city block and stands as one of the finest examples of 19th-century market architecture anywhere in Europe.
The Building: Iron Gothic at Its Finest
The market’s exterior is defined by four monumental iron corner pavilions connected by covered galleries — an elegant combination of Gothic revival ornament and functional industrial engineering. The restoration revealed the original polychrome ironwork in blues, greens, and ochres that had been painted over for decades. The result is genuinely breathtaking, and the building is now widely regarded as one of the most beautiful markets in the world.
Inside the Market
The interior is a working neighbourhood food market with stalls selling fresh produce, fish, meat, cheese, and prepared foods. The renovation integrated an archaeological discovery — Roman-era remains were found beneath the market and are now visible through glass panels set into the floor. The basement level contains a supermarket and parking, while the ground floor remains devoted to the traditional market.
The Sunday Book and Coin Market
Every Sunday morning, the covered galleries surrounding the market host one of Barcelona’s most beloved traditions: the Sant Antoni book and coin market. Hundreds of stalls sell second-hand books, comics, stamps, coins, and collectables. It’s a beloved local institution and a great place to browse for vintage finds.
Getting There
Mercat de Sant Antoni is at Carrer del Comte d’Urgell, 1, accessible from the Sant Antoni metro station (L2). Open Monday through Saturday for the food market; Sunday for the book and coin market.