El Fontán Market, Cast iron marketplace in historic center of Oviedo, Spain.
El Fontán is a marketplace defined by its cast iron framework, creating an open-air hall typical of late 19th-century market design. Inside, vendors arrange stalls selling fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and local food products.
The market was constructed in 1885 to replace an older recreational area used by nobles. Its design reflected the industrial-era style that made cast iron fashionable for public buildings.
The market serves as a meeting place where locals gather daily, making it central to neighborhood social life and commerce. People recognize each other among the stalls, keeping old shopping traditions alive.
The market sits on Daoiz and Velarde Square in the city center and is easy to reach on foot. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday bring additional street vendors and tend to be busier and more lively than other days.
The market appears in a well-known Spanish novel as a backdrop to daily life, giving it literary significance. For book lovers interested in how writers depicted their cities, this spot offers a tangible connection to that story.
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