Bilbao Photo Gallery - Mercado de La Ribera

The big market in the heart of the old town has a history going back to the 14th century, when this was the main square with the church and town hall. The current reinforced concrete building was inaugurated in 1929 and extensively renovated after severe floods hit the city in 1983, and again from 2008-12 after structural deficiencies were discovered. The architect, Pedro Ispizua Susanaga, had a talent for drawing and became the Chief Architect of the city council from 1920-37, and continued his work as a private practice after the Spanish Civil War. Besides this market, he also designed a number of interesting architectural icons in the city, such as the Aviation and Commerce and El Tigre Building. The interiors look fairly new and well-maintained with clean corridors, tidy displays, and a good browsing experience.