Mercado Central de Alicante, Art Nouveau marketplace in central Alicante, Spain.
Mercado Central de Alicante is an Art Nouveau market hall in central Alicante, Spain, extending across two levels. The rectangular structure features a round section with a semispherical dome called La Rotonda, covered in green tiles and rising above the stalls.
The hall opened in 1921 following designs by architects Francisco Fajardo Guardiola and Juan Vidal Ramos, replacing an older market structure on the site of former 18th-century city walls. During the Spanish Civil War in 1938, the structure sustained bomb damage but was rebuilt after the conflict ended.
Vendors sell fresh goods from the surrounding province under the copper dome, from harbor fish to vegetables grown on nearby farms. The trading rhythm follows patterns that have changed little over generations, with animated conversations between sellers and regular customers.
The hall opens Monday through Friday from 07:30 to 14:00 and Saturday from 06:30 to 15:00, with the widest selection available in the early morning. Tram lines L1 through L9 stop nearby, making access easy from the beach or other neighborhoods.
The green ceramic dome was restored in the 1950s after wartime damage, preserving its original shape and color. Beneath La Rotonda stand stalls run by the same families for decades, often sharing recipes using the ingredients they sell.
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