Barcelona’s world famous La Boqueria market through the lens of Muslim Harji

By MUSLIM HARJI

Nevin Harji with her Catalonian buddy at a delightful fruit stand. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

As a regular contributor to Simergphotos as well as its two sister websites Barakah and Simerg over the past 10 years, I am delighted to present photos of my visit to Barcelona’s famous La Boqueria market. As in my previous tours around the world, I was accompanied by my wonderful partner and wife, Nevin.

Barcelona is regarded as one of the finest cities in the world, and is known to football fans around the world for the baffling Lionel Messi, who is arguably one of the best players of all time! Barcelona is also the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, one of Spain’s 17 comunidades autónomas.

Food – like politics – is an integral part of Catalan culture, and Barcelona is the perfect example of this. With its 39 food markets spread throughout the city’s neighbourhoods, tourists and locals alike don’t have to travel far to see the displays of the fresh products that line the market aisles.

Among these, La Boqueria is the most famous. It also has the edge over other markets as it is located in Barcelona’s landmark pedestrian promenade, La Rambla. Every tourist to Barcelona invariably heads to La Rambla, which is often referred to in its plural form Las Ramblas, because the area is actually a series of streets linked together. The La Boqueria market itself has more than 89,000 Google reviews with a rating of 4.5 (out of 5), and the New York Times has rated it as one of the top 5 places to visit in Barcelona.

The official website of La Boqueria market touts itself as the best market in the world! It sells some of the freshest fruit, vegetables and seafood in Barcelona, and the website Tripsavvy notes that if you go to La Boqueria and don’t get the freshest produce and best in town, it would be an embarrassment to the whole city! Such then is its reputation.

A view of Barcelona’s La Boqueira market. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

From ready-made fresh fruit salads for the tired tourist, to literally fresh out of the sea still moving crabs and lobsters, to the bright sweet counters that act like a magnet for children and adults alike, a visit to La Boqueira with its 200 traders is truly an assault on the senses, with smells from fish to fruit to sweets as well as from the choicest local and international gastronomical products. La Boqueira has been the beating heart of Barcelona’s Las Ramblas for almost 180 years.

During our visits to countries around the world, we have seen and enjoyed an incredible contrast between colours and activity, food and drinks, culture and traditions, as well as art, architecture and music. Our experience in Barcelona was unique in all these respects, and we discovered why Mediterranean cuisine is so well internationally known for its ingredients.

We hope you enjoy these photos of our lovely and unforgettable time in one of the world’s best markets that occupies the heart of a world renowned city!

BARCELONA’S WORLD FAMOUS LA BOQUEIRA MARKET IS AN ASSAULT ON THE SENSES FROM EVERY DIRECTION 

Located in La Rambla, Barcelona’s famous pedestrian promenade, La Boqueira is one of 39 markets in the city. Thus tourists and locals alike don’t have to travel far to see the displays of the fresh products that line the market aisles. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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From fresh produce, like fruits, veggies, meat, and fish, to a more wide array of food, flowers, and boutiques, the markets in Barcelona are all unique in their own way. La Boqueira has been the beating heart of the famous Las Ramblas sector of the city for almost 180 years. Photo: © Muslim Harji. 

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La Boqueira with its 200 traders is truly an assault on the senses of the visitors, with smells from fish to fruit to sweets as well as the choicest local and international gastronomical products. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Ready-to-eat gastronomical delights such as Jamon, empanadas, candy, etc at La Boqueira. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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La Boqueira – cured meats is a Catalonian specialty. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Cold juices at La Boqueira. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Delicious fruit salad cups at La Boqueira. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Nougats to die for at La Boqueira. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Dry fruits, exotic spices and oils at La Boqueira, which offers gastronomical delights from the Mediterranean and around the world. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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From stands at the famous La Boqueria, shown above and next photo, to the lesser-known stalls at Mercat de la lI Llibertat, Barcelona is full of wonderful food markets piled high with fresh produce. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Fresh fruits at La Boqueria. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Fresh out of the sea moving crabs and lobsters at La Boqueria. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Fresh octopus prepared to order at La Boqueira. It is said that if you don’t get the freshest produce and best in town, it would be an embarrassment to the whole city! Such is La Boqueira’s reputation. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Fresh seafood at La Boqueira. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Fresh seafood at La Boqueira, prepared to order. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

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Whether you choose to find a seat at one of the many teeming countertops or pick up something on the go, you’ll find a huge variety of food, from salads and sandwiches to snack cones filled with meat and seafood. Photo: © Muslim Harji.

Date posted: February 1, 2020.

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The following sources were used to prepare the textual material in this photo essay:

• Tripsavvy: What to do in Las Ramblas in Barcelona
• New York Times: 5 Places to Visit in Barcelona 
• Time Out: Barcelona’s Top Ten Markets
• New York Mag: No Better Time to go to Barcelona
• Barcelona Tourist Guide: Markets
• Official Boqueria Market Website

Profile of Muslim Harji at Contributors.

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