Mercado público de La Unión, Modernist marketplace in La Unión, Spain.
The Mercado Público de La Unión is a marketplace building in modernist style featuring cast iron columns that support an octagonal metal roof. The roof incorporates large glass surfaces that flood the interior with natural light and define the open character of the market space.
The building was constructed in 1907 during the economic peak of lead and silver mining, when La Unión was a thriving mining town. Architect Víctor Beltri designed it as the central food market to serve the city's growing population.
The building today hosts the International Festival of Mining Songs, where music and local traditions blend with everyday market activity. Visitors experience how artistic events have become part of the place's identity alongside its commercial function.
The building remains an active commercial marketplace, but visitors can also join guided tours to experience the modernist architecture firsthand. Group tours require advance booking, allowing for a planned visit to see the interior and architectural details.
The main facade displays decorative elements on the cornices in various shapes, from rounded forms to fleur-de-lis patterns in gothic style. These ornamental details blend influences from Romanesque and Gothic architecture in an unexpected way.
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