Barcelona City Council has announced an ambitious refurbishment of the Mercat de la Boqueria, scheduled to begin in 2025. This project, which will have an initial budget of 12 million euros, aims to modernize the market. This while maintaining its essence as an emblematic space for the sale of fresh produce and ensuring its economic viability. The works are scheduled for completion in 2027, coinciding with the conclusion of the reforms in La Rambla, which also seek to revitalize this iconic area of the city.
Reforms of the Boquería
The main purpose of the renovation is to preserve the traditional character of the Mercat de la Boqueria as a market for the residents of the Raval neighborhood. This without losing its tourist appeal. In 2023, this municipal market received more than 23 million visits, making it one of the busiest spots in Barcelona. However, from the consistory, they stress the importance of balancing its function as a local market with the influx of tourists.
The main intervention will focus on the central island dedicated to the sale of fish, the facade facing Plaça de la Gardunya and the roof of the market. These areas will be renovated to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the space, ensuring that the market continues to be a point of reference for the inhabitants of the neighborhood and for tourists who visit it.
Investments and deadlines
The initial budget for the refurbishment is 12 million euros, although the final cost will be determined once the final executive projects are completed. The works are scheduled to start in 2025 and be completed in 2027. This will allow the project to coincide with the completion of the La Rambla works, which is part of a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the city center and improve connectivity and accessibility between these key areas.
The most important actions include the remodeling of the central fish island, the incorporation of new aisles to facilitate circulation, and the renovation of the roof, which will be replaced by an asbestos cement one. Work will also be carried out on the façade of the Plaça de la Gardunya, with the aim of making access to the market more fluid and attractive, with two entrance doors that provide equal dignity to the market as a whole.
Dialogue with retailers
A fundamental part of the reform process will be the dialogue with the traders of the Mercat de la Boqueria. To this end, it will be necessary to modify both the Municipal Market Ordinance and the market’s internal regulations, which will make it possible to adapt the regulations to the new needs of the space and the evolution of commerce in the city.
The City Council has stressed that all current market businesses will have the opportunity to remain in their stalls, thus guaranteeing the continuity of the commercial fabric that has given life to the market for years. In addition, an assembly will be held with the traders to ensure that all decisions are taken in a consensual manner and that the reforms have the support of those who work in the Boqueria.
Boqueria: iconic market for the neighborhood and the city
The Mercat de la Boqueria is not only an icon of tourism in Barcelona, but also an integral reference for the promotion of the city. With this reform, the City Council seeks to ensure that the market continues to play that role, but also wants to reinforce its function as the great market of the Raval neighborhood, promoting a greater rapprochement between the Boqueria and its residents.
With the improved access from Plaça de la Gardunya, the market is expected to open up even more towards the neighborhood, becoming a space of centrality for the Raval and reinforcing its role as a community meeting point. The authorities have also pointed out that the coincidence of the completion of the Boqueria works with those of La Rambla will be key for both projects to be integrated into a city vision that promotes the revitalization of public spaces.
In short, the refurbishment of the Mercat de la Boqueria is an ambitious project that seeks to preserve the essence of this iconic market while adapting it to the new demands of the 21st century, with a focus on sustainability and a balance between its local and tourist function.
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