Behind Santander’s City Hall you’ll find Esperanza market (Mercado de la Esperanza), one of the largest produce markets in the whole of Cantabria.
The building was designed by the architects Eduardo Reynals and Juan Moya and in 1977 it was listed as a historic and artistic heritage site.
Inside the market you can buy almost any kind of food, all of top quality. There are cold meats, vegetables, fresh meats, preserves, etc. But what really attracts the attention of visitors, in comparison to other markets, is the incredible range of fish: a real feast for the eyes. Esperanza market is a perfect place for taking photographs of the hustle and bustle that you’ll find there every day.
The market stalls take up almost the whole ground floor. Every fish and shellfish that is harvested in the Cantabrian sea can be found here, and the fish stalls have a huge range of seafood on offer.
In the outdoor part of the market, adjacent to Plaza de la Esperanza, are the “blue awnings”, a busy area of open air shops selling everything you can imagine: a real institution in Santander on market days.
If you’re visiting the area and want to stock up on top-quality produce, don’t hesitate to visit the market, as it’s the perfect place. And even if you’re a regular, you may be interested to know that the most renowned chefs in Santander buy their ingredients in this market. There’s no better guarantee than that.
If you do want to go shopping here, you’ll find one of our Saba public car parks at Santander Train Station on Plaza de las Estaciones, just a few minutes’ walk from Esperanza market.
