Ajuntament de Barcelona - Mercats de Barcelona

The route of Modernist Markets (2)

Galvany Market
The market of Galvany can be found in the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Santaló 65. It occupies a block between the streets of Santaló, Calaf, Amigó and Rector Ubach. If you go by car you may find a free parking space in the courtyard outside the market, which you can enter from Santaló street. The nearest metro stop is Muntaner on line 6 of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat, direction Sabadell and Terrassa, exit Via Augusta-Santaló.

On leaving the metro station you should turn right into Santaló, cross over the streets of Rector Ubach and Calaf. Just before reaching Calaf street, you will see on the left the Santuari de Sant Antoni de Pàdua. Once you have crossed Calaf street, you will immediately find yourself in front of the market.

In terms of the history of the market, on the land which it occupies today there used to be a farmers' and fishermen's open-air market. This land was given over by the Count of Galvany to build a covered market. Construction began in 1868 but the final inauguration didn't take place until 1927. It has been restored twice, in 1964 and 1990.

The market building, of brickwork, is laid out in the form of a Greek cross with a large octagonal central dome. The covering consists of a metal structure and a layer of wooden sheets. Inside the market, twenty-eight iron columns help to hold up the roof. The structure has four majestic façades at the end of each of the four extremes of the building. Each of these façades is decorated with nine interior arches. In the upper part of each arch there is a small modernist coloured stained glass window.

Furthermore, there are elegant mosaics which make up the old coat of arms of the city. On the side façades and in the dome there are more modernist stained glass windows which without doubt are the main attraction. It is one of the most beautiful municipal markets of Barcelona, and is catalogued as an artistic monument.

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