Mercat del Born

Mercat del Born is a large market hall with an impressive iron structure in Barcelona, built with vaulted ceilings, metal columns, and large glass windows. Beneath the building, visitors can see through glass floors the remains of streets and houses from the 1700s.

The building was constructed between 1874 and 1878 as a public market and served this purpose until 1971. Archaeologists later discovered medieval ruins beneath the foundation, which are now accessible to visitors.

The name Born comes from the old riverside location, and the place shows how people once shopped and lived in this neighborhood. You can see how the iron structure was designed to serve as a gathering space for buying and selling.

You can enter the main hall for free and admire the architecture, while special exhibitions require a small entrance fee. The location is easy to reach and well-served by public transportation.

The building shelters one of Europe's largest urban archaeological sites beneath its floors, with nearly 8,000 square meters of preserved old city. This archaeological layer tells the story of Barcelona from a time when the neighborhood was destroyed by warfare.

Location: Sant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera

Inception: 1870s

Architects: José Fontseré Mestre

Official opening: 1876

Architectural style: cast-iron architecture

Part of: Urbanització del Born

Address: Pl. Comercial, 12, Comercial, 2, Fusina, 4 i Ribera, 3

Website: https://elbornculturaimemoria.barcelona.cat

GPS coordinates: 41.38540,2.18410

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:48