There are far more famous markets in Spain like Barcelona's La Boqueria and Madrid's Mercado de San…read moreMiguel. However, this one stood out the moment we walked through the front door. First, it represents the largest produce market in Europe, spanning 86,000 square feet and housing over 1,200 stalls. With its towering dome (Photo 3) and basilica layout, this market feels huge...
...but not intimidating. This space is far less a tourist magnet than a daily functioning, community-focused operation heavily used by the local populace. We saw businesses specializing in fresh rabbit, snails, and specific bean varieties for authentic Valencian paella. There were entire stalls dedicated to freshly harvested saffron, local Valencian citrus, and local seafood like eel and cuttlefish.
Of course, for your more immediate noshing needs, you can also find appetizing baked goods, Middle Eastern sweets, and Jamon by the slice. The Art Nouveau architecture is stunning with its iron-and-steel framework and stained glass roof panels. Located in the heart of the old city in Ciutat Vella, it's close to other key landmarks like La Lonja de la Seda (The Silk Exchange) and Catedral de Valencia.
RELATED - Exploring Valencia? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/rKhLMgeCFK
