What is El Rastro in Madrid?
El Rastro is the largest and most popular open-air flea market in Madrid. On every Sunday and public holiday, hundreds of stalls set up shop in Madrid’s La Latina neighborhood. They hawk ceramics, leather goods, vintage books, home decor, clothes, and so much more! The Rastro has roots as a secondhand goods market.
What to do in El Rastro?
El Rastro is a flea market located in historic center of Madrid, in the popular neighborhood of La Latina. It opens every Sunday and every bank holiday. This lively open-air market is over 400 years old with stands that sell everyday objects as well as unique and curious items.
Who dedicated the book El Rastro to the market?
Ramón Gómez de la Serna dedicated a book, El Rastro to the market. The writer and journalist Pedro de Répide Gallegos wrote a novel called Del Rastro a Maravillas .
When does the Rastro market open in Barcelona?
It opens every Sunday and every bank holiday. This lively open-air market is over 400 years old with stands that sell everyday objects as well as unique and curious items. The Rastro Market is located along the street La Ribera de Curtidores and its adjacent lanes.

When was El Rastro created?
Documents mention the market as early as 1740. Originally a hub for the sale, exchange and general wheeling and dealing of second-hand clothes, it offered an alternative to street peddling.
Where does El Rastro start?
El Rastro is the most popular open air flea market in Spain. It is held every Sunday and public holiday during the year and is located between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo (just south of La Latina metro station and Puerta de Toledo station).
What time does El Rastro start?
9am to 3pmThe Rastro, Cultural Heritage of the City of Madrid, has been held for more than 250 years from 9am to 3pm every Sunday and bank holiday, in the area that used to be occupied by the tanneries next to the Matadero slaughterhouse (now a cultural centre).
How old is El Rastro Madrid?
El Rastro is a flea market located in historic center of Madrid, in the popular neighborhood of La Latina. It opens every Sunday and every bank holiday. This lively open-air market is over 400 years old with stands that sell everyday objects as well as unique and curious items.
What is the oldest flea market in Spain?
El RastroEls Encants or Los Encantes is arguably the oldest continual flea market in Spain. It has been operating since the 14th century. The oldest modern flea market is arguably El Rastro, which has operated since the 1960s.
What day of the week is El Rastro?
According to municipal rules, el Rastro takes place every Sunday and public holiday of the year, from 9 am to 3 pm, in the barrio de Embajadores ('Ambassador's neighborhood) in the Central District of Madrid.
Do you need cash El Rastro?
Some stands even accept credit or debit cards so no cash needed. The metro station La Latina takes you to the edge of the flea market, a good place to start.
What can you buy in El Rastro?
What you can buy at El Rastro you're not likely to find in traditional stores: vintage furniture, curious objects, collector's items, antiques, second-hand goods, antique books, electrical appliances, clothes, accessories, etc. Just go for a walk and let yourself be surprised.
What is the number one attraction in Madrid?
1. Gran Vía. The main tourist and shopping artery in the centre of the capital starts at C/Alcalá and runs 1.3 kilometres to its end at Plaza de España. Throughout over 100 years, Gran Vía has had various names depending on the incumbent government.
What do you do in a plaza?
A plaza is an urban park or square, or another public space where people can walk, sit, and congregate. You might, for example, tell your friend to meet you in the plaza downtown with the big horse statue.
What is the name of the shopping area in Madrid that is open on Sundays?
El Rastro is the most popular flea market in Madrid. Held every Sunday on Plaza de Cascorro and on the streets that spread from it, this market offers you a real Madrid experience. You'll find new and second-hand items from funky clothing to pets to stamps to electronic gadgets – virtually anything you can think of.
What is in the middle of the plaza de Cibeles?
The Cibeles fountain, the symbol of Madrid, stands in the middle of the square. Goddess of nature and protector of the town, this sculpture was designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1777. An interesting fact is that the Real Madrid football fans gather around this monument to celebrate their club's major victories.
What is the number one attraction in Madrid?
1. Gran Vía. The main tourist and shopping artery in the centre of the capital starts at C/Alcalá and runs 1.3 kilometres to its end at Plaza de España. Throughout over 100 years, Gran Vía has had various names depending on the incumbent government.
What can you buy at El Rastro Madrid?
What you can buy at El Rastro you're not likely to find in traditional stores: vintage furniture, curious objects, collector's items, antiques, second-hand goods, antique books, electrical appliances, clothes, accessories, etc. Just go for a walk and let yourself be surprised.
What do you do in a plaza?
A plaza is an urban park or square, or another public space where people can walk, sit, and congregate. You might, for example, tell your friend to meet you in the plaza downtown with the big horse statue.
What has occurred in the plaza Mayor during the years 1631 and 1790?
Between 1631 and 1790 three major fires devestated the Plaza. In the first two instances (1631 & 1670) the plaza was rebuilt almost exactly to the original design however after the fire of 1790 the architect in charge of the restoration decided to reduce the structure to its present form of just three stories.
What Is El Rastro?
El Rastro is the largest and most popular open-air flea market in Madrid. On every Sunday and public holiday, hundreds of stalls set up shop in Madrid’s La Latina neighborhood. They hawk ceramics, leather goods, vintage books, home decor, clothes, and so much more!
History of El Rastro
El rastro literally means “the trail.” In this case, the trail in question is a rather bloody one.
Visiting El Rastro
El Rastro takes place in the La Latina neighborhood, in the triangle-shaped area formed by Calle Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo. It runs along Ribera de Curtidores and through Plaza de Cascorro.
Why is it called Bird Street?
Calle Fray Ceferino González: This street is known as the “Bird street”, due to the street vendors that used to sell birds and other animals. Nowadays there are still a few shops which specialise in birds.
What is the name of the flea market?
The name of the flea market “El Rastro” meaning “the trail” comes from the tanneries that used to exist in the area. When the animals were transported from the slaughterhouses to the tanneries, they would leave a trail of blood and hence the name of "El Rastro".
What is the street called that sells paintings?
Calle de San Cayetano: This street is also called “Painters' street”. It has several shops that sell paintings and works of art, as well as painting tools.
Where is El Rastro in Madrid?
El Rastro, Madrid. El Rastro is a flea market located in historic center of Madrid, in the popular neighborhood of La Latina. It opens every Sunday and every bank holiday. This lively open-air market is over 400 years old with stands that sell everyday objects as well as unique and curious items.
Is El Rastro crowded?
Although it can get very crowded, it is a great place to go for a stroll and get some unique Spanish souvenirs on any sunny Sunday morning or bank holiday. We suggest having some tasty tapas in any one of the many bars and restaurants in La Latina once you are tired of visiting El Rastro.
Where is the market in Toledo?
Located in the vicinity of Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, the market has its hub in Plaza de Cascorro and occupies a large, almost triangular block delimited by the streets Calle de Toledo, Calle de Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo. It also sprawls down other streets, such as Calle de San Cayetano, Calle de Fray Ceferino González, Calle de Carlos Arniches and Calle de Mira el Río, and into squares like Plaza de General Vara del Rey and Plaza de Campillo del Mundo Nuevo.
Where is the Plaza de Cascorro market?
Always full of locals and visitors, it is an attraction no one should miss if they visit the city on a Sunday or a public holiday. Set in the La Latina district, around Ribera de Curtidores, with Plaza de Cascorro as its nerve centre, the market takes in a large, almost triangular block bounded by Toledo, Embajadores and Ronda de Toledo and takes in other streets such as San Cayetano, Fray Ceferino González, Carlos Arniches and Mira el Río, as well as Plaza de General Vara del Rey and Plaza Campillo del Mundo Nuevo.
What is El Rastro?
The image of El Rastro that immediately comes to mind is that of its crowded, transient flea market which is held on Sundays and public holidays. Documents mention the market as early as 1740. Originally a hub for the sale, exchange and general wheeling and dealing of second-hand clothes, it offered an alternative to street peddling. Its curious name (The Trail) may owe itself to the fact that the market was held near a former slaughterhouse and the dead, unskinned livestock transported to it would leave a trail on the ground. In the 16th century, the word “Rastro” was also used as a synonym for butcher's shop or abattoir.
What can I have with paella tapas?
Scattered amongst the many shops, there’s no shortage of typical bars where you can have a wine, beer or vermouth on tap with some paella tapas or a calamari sandwich, as well as traditional restaurants where you can enjoy a nice cocido (chickpea stew) or some tripe.
Where to visit in Madrid on Saturday?
In addition, Saturdays at El Rastro, Madrid’s oldest, most traditional and most iconic leisure fair, is held on the first and third Saturday of each month (in Plaza del General Vara del Rey) and features the best antiques, vintage pieces, auction houses, collectors’ items, gastronomy and entertainment.
What is the most popular flea market in Madrid?
Attracting thousands of people every Sunday each week with more than 750 stalls it has to provide every need and want for its visitors, El Rastro is Madrid’s most popular open-air flea market. Sundays have a special value for the people of both Madrid and visitors of El Rastro, as it means a day of grand sales and trips among countless stalls that provide items from a variety of choices. As it could be said that El Rastro is just an open-air flea market, it is more than just that. Over the years, El Rastro essentially became an excuse for the people of Madrid and Spain to gather as a whole, celebrating anything as they buy and sell different things from each other. Originally, El Rastro was located near a slaughterhouse, and its products were sold in this street. Evolving and growing throughout history, El Rastro is a market where many cultures and people conjoin to provide each other with different things they need.
What does El Rastro mean?
El Rastro translates as “the trail”, which corresponds to the old slaughterhouse in which a huge portion of Madrid’s needs were fulfilled. In 1497, this slaughterhouse was the first official one in Madrid, increasing the attention and value of such a place through time.
Is El Rastro a good place to visit?
With its historic value and appealing charm, El Rastro sure is a market that you should either pay a visit to or spare a day for. Giving the possibility of experiencing the values of Spanish culture, it sure is a place to visit.