La Boqueria

The Boqueria market in Barcelona has a long history dating back to 1217 when tables were first set up near the city gate to sell meat. Eventually, a pig market was established on the site in 1470, called Mercadi Bornet, which was later known as Mercat de la Palla until 1794. Initially, the market was open and unofficial, considered an extension of the Plaça Nova market. The name Boqueria is thought to come from the Catalan word "boc," meaning goat, suggesting that it was originally a place to sell goat meat.

Eventually, authorities decided to build a separate market on La Rambla specifically for fishmongers and butchers. It wasn't until 1826 that the market gained official recognition, and plans were made to construct a proper structure in 1835. The building project, led by architect Mas Vilá, began on March 19, 1840, and the market officially opened later that same year. However, plans for the building were altered several times, and the inauguration didn't take place until 1853. The market continued to evolve, with a new fish market opening in 1911 and the addition of a metal roof in 1914, which remains in place today.