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Barcelona’s Mercat Fira de Bellcaire, popularly known as Mercat dels Encants Vells, is one of the oldest markets in Europe (some references date its origin back to the 14th century). Though in the past it was organized informally outdoors on the streets, over the last years Els Encants came to gather in 15.000 square meters almost 500 stalls – including antiques, furniture pieces, books, records, electrical material, decoration objects, collector’s items, second-hand clothes and much more –, with approximately 100,000 visitors weekly. In 2008 the City Council called a European competition for the construction of a new market complex that could become permanent. Close to its former location and to emblematic buildings like the Agbar Tower or the Disseny Hub, the new market is set forth as mediating element between the redevelopment of the Plaça de les Glòries and the Meridiana axis, an area known as the Bosquet de les Glòries.
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