Every Thursday (early to about 1.30pm) there’s a market in Órgiva (unless there’s a fiesta that week) – in the north part of town, just up from the main square. To the visitor, it’s an interesting way to spend an hour browsing among the stalls.
There’s a wide variety of things including vegetables, fruit, spices, plants, jewellery, clothes, shoes, toys, plants, sunglasses, herbal remedies and knickers, millions of them.
If you’re used to ‘artisan’ markets selling cured meats, organic meat and bottled carrot, blueberry and nettle juice, forget it. This ain’t Brixton or Blackheath.
What struck us was the amazing variety, size and quality of fresh produce. We bought a huge bag of super-lovely tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, aubergines, herbs, peaches, green beans and lemons for about 5€. It kept us going until the next week’s market (in London, ONE aubergine costs £1 – around 1.10€).
The one thing we keep struggling to find is fresh ginger (jengibre). We can’t pronounce it either, so, just as well. [Update: Alpujarra supermarket sells it.]
The whole town seems to come out – and also people from surrounding areas, including people living in Beneficio, who come to sell things like jewellery. It’s a fun experience and you’ll no doubt hear someone strumming a guitar or playing some bongos.
Chicken Tonight
One place we’ve yet to try in the market is a person who sells rotisserie chicken; a Dante’s Inferno of dripping carcasses.
The market was once next to the children’s play area but now stretches over a field near the medical centre. Unless you really have to, we advise not driving into the town on market day as you pobably won’t be able to park – especially if it’s between 9am and noon.
Lunch at Baraka – a stone’s throw from the market – is a great way to relax with a mint tea and falafel wrap. Baraka is a local favourite – and anyone who knows Órgiva will probably tell you that.
Other ‘local’ markets include: Lanjarón (Friday); Cañar (Wednesday); Pampaneira (Monday); Bubion (Tuesday) and Saturdays; Capileira (Tuesday); Trevélez (Wednesday).
On the other end of the scale, here’s our post about Spanish supermarkets….and here’s a video of Órgiva’s market by llilit wizman (May 2011):
Related posts:
More stuff about Órgiva and environs
© con jamón spain
Hi is the marked open on Tuesday. ?
Posted by Maja | March 28, 2018, 11:22 amHi Maja – do you mean the (normal) Thursday market? Maybe not this week as it’s Semana Santa – but our local produce festival is on ‘Hecho en la Alpujarra´from tomorrow…
Posted by con jamón spain | March 28, 2018, 2:01 pmNot there quite yet…later this month…
Posted by con jamón | June 1, 2013, 3:55 pmthink I drove through Orgiva once, a few years ago, but it wasn’t market day. I love street markets!
Posted by Marianne | June 1, 2013, 5:59 amOrgiva is – as the guidebooks will tell you – a ‘gateway’ to other places. Next time, stop nd say hi – we’ll buy you a mint tea (and maybe a falafel…)
Posted by con jamón | June 1, 2013, 7:55 amI might just do that, thanks 🙂
Hope you are settling down nicely – now that the better weather’s here.
Posted by Marianne | June 1, 2013, 2:35 pm