Tarragona Living History

Come to discover the Tarragona Markets!

Experience the city markets! It’s said that if you really want to know what a city and the people who live in it are like, you’ll find the clues in its markets.

Built in 1915, Tarragona’s Central Market is a worthy representative of the Mediterranean spirit of Tarragona, and more dynamic than ever since its renovation was completed in 2017, which has also imbued new life into its Modernist features. In this new stage of its life, the historical essence of the market is still very much to the fore, but now coexists alongside the ambition and dynamism typical of the twenty-first century.

The real treasure of every market is, of course, inside it: its people, products and stories. But the outer shell of Tarragona’s Central Market cannot be underestimated, and the features of this stunning building alone would justify a visit.

The Central Market was designed by one of the most prolific architects of Catalan Modernism in Tarragona, Josep Maria Pujol de Barberà.

Pujol de Barberà planned a large rectangular building with three naves, built with a material which at that time was very innovative for Tarragona: reinforced concrete or cement. The building was inaugurated with a big formal ceremony in December 1915.

The updated market encompasses a space where people not only go to shop but also to taste, learn and absorb the buzz of the city.

Today, the heart of the Central Market is formed by some stalls of high quality, local and always seasonal produce, endorsed by the knowledge of the stallholders, many of whom have been preceded by generations. of their families

In the Central Market you will also find a spacious area to sit down with a coffee, a glass of wine or a tasty meal surrounded by the beauty of its Modernist architecture.

And we shouldn’t forget to mention the latest incorporation into this twenty-first century market. No visit could be complete without watching the Central Market’s new Carillon Clock in action.

Every day, seven figures from the Seguici Popular (popular retinue) of Santa Tecla dance to the sounds of the pasodoble Amparito Roca (the anthem of Tarragona’s Santa Tecla festival) on the main façade of the market. They perform at noon and 6.00 pm every day, all year around.

This is yet another ingredient in a culinary and cultural offering that is bound to put a smile on your face during your visit!