BILBAO's MARKET
The last must-do I want to mention is Mercado de la Ribera. This is a great place to learn about Spanish/Basque food culture and experience its history. Ribera Market lives inside of a building on the Nervión river. At one time it was the most complete municipal food market and biggest covered market in all of Europe, with a surface area of 10,000 square meters. The three-level building currently has more than 60 merchants providing the community with the freshest fruit, produce, meat, shellfish, and cheeses. Get in there and elbow your way around a mix of 90-year-old grandmas to 20-year-old hipsters, all buying food for their next meals. The locals take their feasts seriously, if you are there during a holiday, it was especially important to shop for the best fish and wine for the perfect Christmas feast.
AAT-TIP: During holidays public life is generally quiet. Many businesses and organizations are closed, but some bakers and food stores will remain open. Public transport services generally run to a
reduced schedule.
A visit to this market covers the spectrum of Basque Country's gastronomical goods. On top of the meat, fish and produce mongers, Mercado de la Ribera also offers a gourmet market and bar with delicacies for tourists, and locals, to sit down and have a light bite and drinks with friends. We bought some meats, bread, and cheeses for a picnic the next afternoon. Although the pintxos and wines looked tempting we moved on to our next discovery.
WEBSITE: http://mercadodelaribera.biz/
HOURS: Monday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. / Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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This finishes our Bilbao market review. I hope you find it as amazing as we did. Please let us, and our followers, know your thoughts and comments!