Mercado Central de Almería

About Mercado Central de Almería

The Mercado Central stands a few steps from the Puerta de Purchena. Work began in 1892 and the iron, glass and brick hall by city architect Trinidad Cuartara opened in 1897 on a site of about 4,500 m². An allegory of Abundance with a basket of fruit crowns one façade. The market sheltered residents during Civil War air raids, a plaque recalls Marie Curie's visit in 1931, and a full refurbishment ran from 2009 to January 2012.

Fishmongers fill the semi-basement with gamba roja, gallo pedro and lorito. Upstairs, butchers line the walls around an island of fruit and vegetable stalls selling Raf tomatoes, Níjar potatoes, olives, salted fish and gurullos pasta. Cafetería La Plaza grills produce bought at the stalls for a small charge, and Ibéricos Ortuño slices ham to eat there.

It opens Monday to Friday 08:00–15:00 and 17:00–20:30, Saturday 08:00–15:00; closed Sundays, with shorter hours possible in summer. The cathedral is a ten-minute walk away; buses stop on Rambla Obispo Orberá, which has an underground car park. It suits cooks with a holiday kitchen, families and lovers of iron architecture.

Come on a weekday morning before 11:00 for the best fish; after storms some fish stalls stay shut. Saturday midday is liveliest. Carry cash for small stalls, and ask the fishmonger to clean your fish.

Mercado Central de Almería in pictures

What you’ll find

• Butchers and charcuterieMeat, ham and sausages (08:00–15:00)Buy
• Car parkPaid parkingBuy
• Cook your purchaseCooked to orderBuy
• Fish marketFresh fish and seafood (08:00–15:00)Buy
• Free entryFree visit (08:00–20:30)Free
• Historic buildingArchitectureFree
• Local specialitiesRegional produceBuy
• Market stallsFresh food shopping (08:00–15:00)Buy
• Tapas barTapas and drinksBuy

Nearby places to visit

The market sits at the top of the old town, steps from the Puerta de Purchena and the Paseo de Almería, the city's main shopping street, beneath which run the Civil War air-raid shelters, open for guided visits. Almería Cathedral (500 m), a fortified 16th-century church, lies south through the pedestrian streets, and the Alcazaba of Almería (700 m) crowns the ridge above the old town. The city beaches start east of the port, with Playa de San Miguel (1.5 km) and Playa del Zapillo (2 km). Inland, the Copper Age settlement of Los Millares (15 km) is a short drive up the Andarax valley.