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Situated in the heart of the
Ciutat Vella and with humble beginnings, the Santa Caterina Market was inaugurated in 1848 to supply to the more popular classes of Barcelona of mid XIX Century.
In the XX Century, this market provided, during the post-war, to the citizens that arrived from neighbouring villages, like Sant Adrià, Santa Coloma or from Mataró, as the trams terminated their journeys very close the commercial grounds.
It received its name from the convent that it was constructed over, with a metallic structure and a simple cement coating. During the years the Santa Caterina Market, with 3,000 square metres of surface, accommodated, also, a dependency from the Guardia Urbana (police), until recently, it was functioning, not only as a market, but as a charity centre.
In September 2005, an integral remodeling was inaugurated, which meant the construction of a new market with a new mark as an avant-garde character and designed by
Benedetta Tagliabue and
Enric Miralles, with a work coordinated by José Miguel Díez.
The new office cover is the emphasis, being the copyright of the artist
Toni Comella, of a flutter form inspired by the Mediterranean that employs hexagon mosaics of which are 5,500 square metres with 67 colours, in homage to the natural products that are sold below.
The works were done during 6 years, during this time this market was installed in a provisional marquee situated in the Passeig Companys. Between the new services that introduce the new equipment, the emphasis is on the Cuines de Santa Caterina restaurant, which has been converted in a successful gastronomical space.