Mercado de Colón

Mercado de Colón is a market just outside the city centre and definitely a must see. This market is not a traditional food market, but you can go here for a drink or to grab a bite. You can find the Mercado de Colón in Pla del Remei neighbourhood.

Where it started

Mercado Colón used to be a gas factory. Francisco Mora Berenguer designed the market in 1914. Because of his architecture study he learned about the Catalans Modernism and got to know more about the famous Gaudí. In Valencia you also have the Mercado Central and the Mercado Ruzafa, so people had to convince the mayor that they needed another market in their neighbourhood. After a while, Franscisco could finally begin with the building. Two years later (1916), on Christmas Eve the grand opening took place. The merchants of the Mercado de Colón walked in a festive parade from Plaza the Toros to Mercado de Colón with music. Unfortunately, at the end of the 20th century the market deteriorated, and a lot of the merchants retired or closed their stall. 2003 was the year that they restored the Colón Market and there was a reopening. It was not a traditional market anymore, but nowadays it is a market with all kind of restaurants and bars. There are two floors, both of them with drinks and food, an open market with a great atmosphere where all the locals come for a drink, breakfast or the typical Valencian drink, horchata.

The best places to go in Mercado de Colón

The Mercado de Colón is always full of life and there is always something to do, so it is thé place where people come together for a drink, a bite or maybe a business meeting. Of course, we have some favourite places to go in de Mercado Colón. Our favourites are:

Traditional mosaic

Mercado Colón is gorgeous on the outside and charming on the inside. The market has some special Spanish details on the inside. On the side of Calle Jorge Juan you will find mosaic with the typical Valencian oranges and other pictures from mosaic. Also there are some really special pillars with ‘trencadís’. Trencadis is a form of mosaic where they break the tiles and use them to fill up empty spots. With a surface of 3500 m2 and the high ceilings make the places very special!

Tips

• Curious about more amazing markets in Valencia? Plenty of other great (hidden) ones to discover! Check out this page for the best local markets!
• Do you wanna know more about Horchata and other great spots in the city to enjoy this drink? Take a look at our page Horchaterías in Valencia for more information!