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Mercat del Born is one of the most important buildings in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain constructed with iron. Located in the lower, east side of the la Ribera neighborhood, it is the largest covered square in all of Europe and marked the start of Modernisme in Catalan architecture. It is rectangular, with two large domed, intersecting buildings, and 4 smaller naves. The structure is supported on cast iron columns with a flat roof covered in glazed tile.The market came into operation in 1878 and was in use as the central market in town until 1971. At its closure, it was functioning as a wholesale market, but was replaced with the opening of Mercabarna in Zona Franca. Restoration work has started and stopped several times since the closure of market. Each successive city government has had a different plan for the very large space. After closure, it fell into a state of disrepair and was restored 1977 to 1981. In 2002 work was started to install the Biblioteca Provincial de Barcelona, but during excavations, extensive ruins of the medieval city were discovered. It was then decided to preserve the ruins and move the library project to another location. Currently, the market covers these archaeological ruins which were part of the la Ribera district that was demolished in the early eighteenth century after the defeat of Catalonia in the War of Succession in 1714. This portion of la Ribera was forcibly demolished to make way for the construction of the Ciutadella military structure as ordered by the new Spanish king, Philip V. The market now exposes the subterranean ruins for visitors while preserving space around the exterior of them for mixed use, cultural center, in addition to having a museum about the War of Succession onsite. At the same time, it is possible for pedestrians to pass freely from Passeig del Born through to the other side that leads to the park of Ciutadella... The restored market opened its doors to public on September 11, 2013 which was the 299th anniversary of the fall of Barcelona following its siege that marked the end of an independent Catalonia state and the start of nearly three centuries of suppression of Catalan autonomy...




...taken behind the mercat del born, through the shutters of "big fish"...


(merkat del born'un arkasındaki "big fish" restoranın storları arasından çekildi.)