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Market · Santander, Cantábria
Mercado de la Esperanza
Iron market opened in 1904 in central Santander, next to the town hall, with fish and seafood stalls on the ground floor and meats, cheeses and vegetables on the upper floor.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Mercado de la Esperanza
The Mercado de la Esperanza is Santander's main food market and is located in the centre, next to the town hall. It was designed in 1897 by architects Eduardo Reynals and Juan Moya and inaugurated on 10 April 1904 on the site of the former convent of San Francisco.
The building is one of the rare preserved examples of 19th-century iron architecture in Spain, with a metal structure, large windows and a spacious, light interior. It was declared a historical-artistic monument in 1977.
The ground floor is completely dedicated to fish and seafood from the Cantabrian Sea, with anchovies, bonito, sardines, octopus and shellfish. The upper floor has stalls selling meats, cured sausages, Cantabrian cheeses, fruit and vegetables. It's the place to see what people eat in the region.
The surrounding streets have bars and restaurants that serve the market's products.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 to 45 minutes.
Best time
In the morning, when the fish stalls are full. The market is closed on Sundays.
How to get there
It's on Plaza de la Esperanza, next to the town hall in the centre, about a 5-minute walk from the train station.
Tip
Go early and look at the ground-floor fish stalls: they are the portrait of Cantabrian fishing.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Mercado de la Esperanza
What can be found at the Mercado da Esperança?
Fish and seafood on the ground floor and meats, cold cuts, cheeses, fruits and vegetables on the upper floor.
When does the market date from?
It was inaugurated in 1904, in an iron building designed in 1897.
Does the market open on Sundays?
No, it's closed on Sundays.