If you are staying in Málaga’s historic centre, there is one experience unlike any other in the city: waking up in the morning, walking downstairs and reaching, within six minutes, the place where the city has been shopping, eating and coming together for centuries.
Málaga’s Atarazanas Central Market is just that: not merely a market, but the heartbeat of Málaga’s old town. And from Chinitas Santos, at Calle Santos 8, it is just a short and hassle-free walk away.
A Building with 600 Years of History
What is now Málaga’s most important market was once the main Nasrid shipyard in the area. The term ‘Atarazanas’ comes from the Arabic ‘atar assani’, meaning ‘a place where ships are repaired’. Belugamalaga In the 14th century, the sea reached much closer to where the building stands today; over the centuries, Málaga gradually reclaimed land from the Mediterranean.
Following the Christian conquest, the building served many different purposes: a warehouse, military hospital and barracks. In 1870, it was demolished to provide work for the poorer classes, and the municipal architect Joaquín Rucoba designed a new market. Thanks to the intervention of the San Telmo Academy of Fine Arts, the site’s original monumental gateway was preserved and can still be seen today on the building’s main façade. Visita Málaga
The result was a building that effortlessly combines 19th-century iron and glass with the 14th-century Nasrid horseshoe arch. Its construction as Alfonso XII Market used 262 tonnes of cast iron and 163 tonnes of mild or wrought iron, with clear references to Gustave Eiffel’s architecture. Malagatop In 2011, the latest major restoration was completed, restoring the building to its original splendour.
What You Will Find Inside
Atarazanas Market is divided into two clearly distinct areas: the food market, where you can buy fruit and vegetables, fish and seafood, meat, cured meats, pickles and salted produce; and the bars and tapas stalls. Barceló
Fish is unquestionably the market’s speciality. Anchovies, Málaga white prawns and fried fish take centre stage on any market morning. Some fish stalls have tables where they cook the fresh produce for customers. Freetourmalaga In other words, you can buy and eat at the same stall, or simply sit at one of the outdoor terraces and order what has just arrived from the sea.
Although it has become increasingly well known among visitors, it remains a neighbourhood market with affordable prices and a local clientele. You will see lifelong residents of Málaga alongside travellers who have made the right choice in stepping away from the conventional tourist itinerary.
Opening Hours and How to Get There from Calle Santos
The market is open from Monday to Saturday, from 08:00 to 15:00. Please note that the fish section is closed on Mondays. Feria de Málaga
From Chinitas Santos, at Calle Santos 8, the walk takes around 6 minutes through the heart of the old town. There is no better way to start the day in Málaga.
Are you staying in the historic centre and want to have everything within walking distance? At Chinitas Santos, we offer boutique apartments on Calle Santos with fully equipped kitchens, so you can make the most of what you find at the market. Book now