Market of San Miguel, Glass and iron marketplace at Plaza San Miguel, Madrid, Spain
The Market of San Miguel is a food market in Madrid, Spain, housed beneath a construction of glass and iron. The structure displays decorative details along the facades and allows daylight into the interior space.
Alfonso Dubé designed the building, which opened in 1916 as a supply market for the neighborhood. Following a complete renovation, it reopened in 2009 as a gastronomic market.
The name comes from the church of San Miguel de los Octoes, which stood on this site until José I Bonaparte ordered its demolition in 1809; Lope de Vega was baptised there. Since 2009 the market has been a gastronomic market, with over 30 vendors selling tapas, Iberian ham, olives and baked goods, plus beer, wine and champagne.
The market sits between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, a short walk from Plaza Mayor, and has two floors. The iron-and-glass hall is entered from the surrounding square, and the building stands on a platform raised 10 cm at its lowest point and 1.65 m at its highest. Expect crowds of visitors, over 7 million a year.
San Miguel is the only surviving example in Madrid of the iron architecture used for the covered markets built in the last third of the 19th century; the Mostenses, la Cebada, Chamberí and la Paz were all demolished. The exterior glazing was added later, and the ceramic cresting along the roof still crowns the structure.
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