Mercado central de Pontevedra

The medieval squares of the historic centre of Pontevedra were, since the Middle Ages, the place where different products were sold. In the Plaza de Teucro, products such as bread{{Cite web|date=26 January 2020|title=Un país mágico: Pontevedra|url=https://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/un-pais-magico/pais-magico-pontevedra/5493286|website=TVE|language=es}} and milk were sold,Aganzo, Carlos, 2010, Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto, Madrid, El País-Aguilar, p. 67 in the Plaza de la Verdura, vegetables, fruit, chestnuts{{Cite web|date=27 July 2018|title=Pontevedra, el Medievo entre plazas|url=https://viajar.elperiodico.com/destinos/pontevedra-medievo-plazas|website=El Periódico|language=es}} and fish,{{Cite web|date=6 January 2017|title=Las artísticas fuentes de hierro y el enigma de la 5ª fuente|url=https://pontevedraviva.com/opinion/2703/artisticas-fuentes-hierro-enigma-quinta-fuente-jose-benito-garcia-1/?lang=es|website=Pontevedra Viva|language=es}} and in the Plaza de Méndez Núñez, chickens,{{Cite web|date=30 March 2011|title=El tradicional y olvidado lenguaje de las campanas|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2011/03/30/tradicional-olvidado-lenguaje-campanas/0003_201103P30C16991.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} among others.

In the 1880s, the city urgently needed a covered market for greater comfort and hygiene, as shown in the municipal minutes of 5 March 1884. In 1885, the project for a covered market was approved and entrusted to the municipal architect, Alejandro Sesmero.{{Cite web|date=23 January 2014|title=A Pontevedra da Restauración|url=http://tesourosdotempo.pontevedra.eu/especial/a-pontevedra-da-restauracion/|website=Tesouros do tempo|language=gl}} The new covered market was inaugurated on 15 August 1886 next to the Burgo Bridge, on the site of the old prison. It had a ground floor and a longitudinal facade along the Lérez river on the old embankment. There were marble counters and iron fans for meat.{{Cite web|date=15 August 2020|title=1886: Inauguración del «mercado cubierto» de Pontevedra|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2020/08/15/inauguracion-mercado-cubierto-pontevedra/0003_202008P15C10992.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} The market was covered with a mixed iron and wooden frame.{{Cite web|date=16 August 2017|title=El "magnífico" nuevo mercado cubierto de la villa|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2017/08/15/magnifico-nuevo-mercado-cubierto-villa/0003_201708P15C7995.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

This market, covered by a metal roof, was demolished in the 1940s to build a new, larger market in Sierra Street, on the site of the city's old slaughterhouse. The design of the market project was presented in May 1942 by the architects Emilio Quiroga Losada and José Barreiro Vázquez and construction began in 1945. During the construction of the new market, fish sellers and farmers set up their stalls in individual boxes next to the Burgo Bridge and Valentín García Escudero Square.{{Cite web|date=1 April 2012|title=La plaza que Valentín García donó a Pontevedra|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2012/04/01/plaza-valentin-garcia-dono-pontevedra-17670741.html|website=Faro|language=es}} The city's new two-floor covered market, designed by the municipal architect Emilio Quiroga Losada, was inaugurated on 20 January 1948.{{Cite web|date=17 September 2014|title=La otra zona monumental|url=https://pontevedraviva.com/opinion/1279/leoncio-feijoo-zona-monumental-pontevedra/|website=Pontevedra Viva|language=es}}

In the 1990s, it became clear that this 1948 covered market needed to be completely renovated to meet new needs. In 1999, a temporary market was built in front of the city's municipal sports pavilion, north of the Lérez River, and the 1948 market was dismantled stone by stone in 2000 to rebuild it completely renovated on the same site in Sierra Street.{{Cite web|date=6 March 2007|title=Apuran el derribo del viejo mercado provisional para crear un parque|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2007/03/06/apuran-derribo-viejo-mercado-provisional-18155739.html|website=Faro|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=29 March 2001|title=Indeza amenaza con plantar las obras del nuevo mercado|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2001/03/29/indeza-amenaza-plantar-obras-nuevo-mercado/0003_491461.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} This renovation was carried out by the architect César Portela and the market was inaugurated on 10 October 2003.{{Cite web|date=7 June 2004|title=La "mejor plaza de abastos de Galicia" está cuestionada|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2004/06/07/mejor-plaza-abastos-galicia-cuestionada/0003_2748277.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} The complete renovation of the building was based on space and luminosity and included the construction of a two-floor underground car park.{{Cite web|date=14 December 2014|title=El Mercado sigue muriéndose|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/santiago/santiago/2014/12/14/mercado-sigue-muriendose/0003_201412P14C16991.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

The first floor of the market was refurbished in 2019 for the installation of a gastronomic area which was inaugurated on 22 August 2019 under the name Gastroespazo with different gastronomic stands dedicated to hake, octopus, mussels, chicken and traditional Galician cuisine, among others.{{Cite web|date=22 August 2019|title="O Mercado" arrasa en su apertura|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2019/08/22/o-mercado-arrasa-apertura-15596241.html|website=Faro|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=23 August 2019|title=El "Gastroespazo" de Pontevedra aspira a ser un referente en Galicia|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2019/08/23/gastroespazo-pontevedra-aspira-referente-galicia-15594653.html|website=Faro|language=es}}

In October 2020, the market launched a website for the purchase of its products online, ponteabastos.com.{{Cite web|date=22 October 2020|title=Producto fresco online: así se hace la compra en el Mercado de Abastos de Pontevedra|url=https://www.elespanol.com/treintayseis/articulos/actualidad/producto-fresco-online-asi-se-hace-la-compra-en-el-mercado-de-abastos-de-pontevedra|website=El Confidencial|language=es}}

The market is a two-floor granite building, rectangular in plan and in the traditional Galician style with columns, arches and arcades.{{Cite web|date=10 January 2022|title=Los mejores mercados municipales de España para hacer la compra a buen precio|url=https://www.elmundo.es/metropoli/gastronomia/2022/01/10/61d2ef51fdddff17628b4597.html|website=El Mundo|language=es}} Its central body, to which two U-shaped bodies were added, was treated as a basilica.{{Harvsp|Fontoira Surís|2009|p=529|id=}} The two façades are made up of three semi-circular arches. The main facade is structured around three main arcades on the ground floor that give access to the building and five arcades on each side that house various small shops. On the upper floor, the central part of the façade has three large semi-circular windows, the largest of which is the central one, and rectangular windows framed by balconies on each side.Aganzo, Carlos, 2010, Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto, Madrid, El País-Aguilar, p. 83 The central body of both façades is crowned with pediments at the top and columns on the two central supports. The central arch is higher than the lateral ones. The building has two roofs with independent ridges.

On the north facade, the central part of the facade is framed by three semicircular windows on both sides, between which are four oeil-de-boeuf, and by windows without balconies on the first floor.Riveiro Tobío, Elvira, 2008, Descubrir Pontevedra, Pontevedra, Edicións do Cumio, p. 24

Inside, the main entrance leads to a large central stone staircase leading to the first floor. The main staircase ends in a balcony on the first floor and allows for a lower passageway with three arches, the central one larger, which facilitate the transition to the stalls. The interior is structured around two large central rectangular courtyards with balconies on the first floor and arcades on the ground floor.{{Cite web|date=7 June 2004|title=La "mejor plaza de abastos de Galicia" está cuestionada|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2004/06/07/mejor-plaza-abastos-galicia-cuestionada/0003_2748277.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

The market had a total of 367 points of sale in 2014,{{Cite web|date=14 December 2014|title=El Mercado sigue muriéndose|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/santiago/santiago/2014/12/14/mercado-sigue-muriendose/0003_201412P14C16991.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=4 July 2013|title=La subasta de puestos del mercado de abastos anticipa su reforma|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2013/07/04/subasta-puestos-mercado-anticipa-reforma/0003_201307P4C1991.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} and after the transformation of the first floor in 2019 into a gastronomic area, it has 214 stalls dedicated to the sale of fish and seafood and fruit and vegetables,{{Cite web|date=26 November 2020|title=Pontevedra saca a concurso 64 puestos en el mercado de abastos de la calle Sierra|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2020/11/26/pontevedra-saca-concurso-64-puestos-mercado-abastos-calle-sierra/0003_202011P26C5993.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} 30 indoor stalls dedicated mainly to the sale of meat and 19 outdoor stalls under the arcades dedicated to the sale of clothing, newspapers or jewellery.{{Cite web|date=28 January 2021|title=El mercado de Pontevedra oferta las 55 bancadas y nueve casetas que están vacantes|url=https://pontevedraviva.com/xeral/71599/mercado-pontevedra-oferta-55-bancadas-nueve-casetas-vacantes/?lang=es|website=Pontevedra Viva|language=es}} There are also flower sellers on the ground floor of the market.{{Cite web |date=12 July 2021 |title=El delicioso núcleo histórico de Pontevedra|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/ocio/viajes/20210712/7579740/nucleo-historico-pontevedra-bien-conservado.html|website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}

The market is also home to the Pontevedra fish auction, where fish and seafood auctions are held.{{Cite web|date=7 January 2005|title=La lonja de Pontevedra logra el permiso definitivo de Pesca|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2005/01/07/lonja-pontevedra-logra-permiso-definitivo-pesca/0003_3349772.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=5 October 2020|title=La lonja del Mercado de Abastos de Pontevedra cierra su peor verano|url=https://www.diariodepontevedra.es/articulo/pontevedra/lonja-mercado-abastos-pontevedra-cierra-peor-verano/202010051033331106584.html|website=Diario de Pontevedra|language=es}}

Since 2002, the market has had a two-floor underground car park which also serves the historic city centre with a total of 208 parking spaces.{{Cite web|date=11 May 2002|title=Pontevedra aumentará hasta 2.250 plazas su oferta de aparcamientos subterráneos|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2002/05/11/pontevedra-aumentara-2250-plazas-oferta-aparcamientos-subterraneos/0003_1083004.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

During the renovation of the market, the remains of a piece of the medieval city walls were discovered nearby in Sierra Street.{{Cite web|date=17 July 2013|title=48 horas en Pontevedra: la bella desconocida|url=https://www.abc.es/viajar/guia-repsol/20130621/abci-pontevedra-visita-48horas-201306201326.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.es%2F|website=ABC|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=2 March 2002|title=Pontevedra redescubre su muralla|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2002/03/02/pontevedra-redescubre-muralla/0003_987926.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

On 25 November 2009, the sculptural group "A moza das galiñas" by the artist Cuqui Piñeiro, representing a woman feeding four hens and a rooster, was inaugurated in front of the main entrance to the market in Sierra Street. The sculptural group is a tribute to Galician women and the market's vendors.{{Cite web|date=22 March 2019|title=Gallinas antivándalos junto al mercado de Pontevedra|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2019/03/22/gallinas-antivandalos-junto-mercado-pontevedra/00031553255531008770511.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=25 November 2009|title=Un "puesto" de gallinas ante el Mercado|url=https://www.farodevigo.es/pontevedra/2009/11/25/puesto-gallinas-mercado-17884110.html|website=Faro|language=es}}

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 1.JPG|Central part of the main market façade.

File:Pontevedra-Mercado nocturno (12303849386).jpg|The market at night.

File:Pontevedra-Mercado-municipal.jpg|North side of the market.

File:Pontevedra-Mercado y calle Sierra (6878839898).jpg|Arcades of the market's main façade at night.

File:Mercado de Pontevedra (6309939200).jpg|Inner courtyard and stalls.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 7.JPG|Empty stalls.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 0.JPG|Entrance and central interior staircase.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 9.JPG|Balcony opening onto one of the inner courtyards.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 6.JPG|Interior arcades.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 5.JPG|Fish.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 4.JPG|Fish.

File:Pontevedra - Mercado Municipal 2.JPG|Seafood.

File:Pitas, pitas1 (5170707685).jpg|Woman with chickens and remains of the ramparts.

File:Pitas, pitas4 (5170707915).jpg|A moza das galiñas in front of the market arcades.

File:Pontevedra-Vendedora de pollos.jpg|Sculptural group in front of one of the entrances to the underground market car park.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book|last=Abelleira Doldán|first=Miguel|title=La arquitectura en Galicia durante la autarquía: 1939–1953|publisher=Universidade da Coruña|year=2016|isbn=|location=La Coruña|page=|language=es}}
• {{Cite book|last=Aganzo|first=Carlos|title=Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto|publisher=El País-Aguilar|year=2010|isbn=978-8403509344|location=Madrid|page=83|language=es}}
• {{Cite book |last=Fontoira Surís |first=Rafael |title=Pontevedra monumental. |publisher=Diputación de Pontevedra |year=2009 |isbn=9788484573272 |location=Pontevedra |page=529 |language=gl}}
• {{Cite book|last=Riveiro Tobío|first=Elvira|title=Descubrir Pontevedra|publisher=Edicións do Cumio|year=2008|isbn=9788482890852|location=Pontevedra|page=24|language=es}}

• Caixa de Pontevedra
• Burgo Bridge

• (es) [https://www.ponteabastos.com/ Official site]
• (es) [https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/fichas/lugar-emblematico/mercado-de-abastos-20984/ Mercado de Abastos Guía Repsol]
• (es) [http://mipontevedrabonita.blogspot.com/2016/05/vamos-al-mercado.html Mercado de Abastos de Pontevedra]
• (es) [https://www.visit-pontevedra.com/que-ver/imprescindibles/] on the website Visit-Pontevedra
• (es) [https://www.arteynatura.com/2020/08/pontevedra-esa-magica-sorpresa.html Mercado de Pontevedra]

{{Pontevedra landmarks}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=architecture|portal2=business|portal3=food|portal4=Spain}}

{{commons category|Mercado Municipal de Pontevedra}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercado de Pontevedra}}

Category:1948 in Spain

Category:Spanish cuisine

Category:Retail markets in Spain

Category:Buildings and structures in Pontevedra

Category:Tourist attractions in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Economy of Pontevedra