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El Mercat de la Llibertat (Liberty Market), of Modernist style and one of the most emblematic markets of the city was constructed in 1888 from a project of the municipal architect
Miquel Pascual i Tintorer.
The iron structure is very characteristic of this vicinity, constructed the same year by the company, Maquinista Terrestre i Marítima.
The origns of this market stem from 1831, when a town planning project was presented for the area in which that moment was occupied by fields. It was a while since Gràcia had the title of Vila and, and in the atmosphere, the yearning for independence from the neighbouring Barcelona could be inhaled.
With the development of this project, a new square surrounding by houses was left configured, called Plaça del Rei (Plaza del Rei or ´King´s Square), where the custom to accommodate the rural workers of the area who met there to sell their products soon began.
It wasn´t until 1840 that the square adopted its actual name, La Llibertat (The Liberty), which later on gave its name to the market that was constructed in this location.
After its construction, in 1888, the market suffered different reforms, the most important in 1974 and 1987. Since February 2007, it finds itself installed in a provisional marquee, located in the Plaza Gal•la Placídia, while the new structural remodeling of the historic and Modernist building is achieved.
The future Llibertat Market will dispose of new and better services for its clients and merchants, like a subterranean floor to unload the products (that has used ´micropilotages´ to maintain the structure of the building stable while the works are completed), new warehouses and fridges, a waste recycling system and a showroom.