Mercato Orientale

The Mercato Orientale, in Genoa

The Mercato Orientale is one of the oldest covered markets of Genoa, living temple of Ligurian gastronomy. The Genoa audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this market founded in 1899 on the former cloister of a church, inspired by great European markets like the Boqueria of Barcelona, where are displayed focaccia, fresh pasta, pesto alla genovese, olive oil of the Riviera and anchovies of the Ligurian Sea.

History

To do your shopping at the market procures a thousand benefits, for the spirit as for the body, and even more in an Italian city like Genoa, where gastronomy is a sacred pillar of cultural heritage. Founded in 1899 on a land formerly destined for the cloister of the neighbouring church, the Mercato Orientale is considered one of the oldest commercial places of Genoa. Its name comes to it from its position to the east of the city centre. For its conception, it drew inspiration from other great European markets, like the Boqueria of Barcelona or the Markthal of Rotterdam, but with an Italian touch that makes all the difference: the stalls present themselves like canvases, the flowers and the plants perfume the atmosphere, and the products of the terroir delight the taste buds even before being tasted. Focaccia, fresh pasta, pesto alla genovese, olive oil of the Riviera, salted anchovies of the Ligurian Sea: the list makes the mouth water. On its two thousand square metres, the Mercato Orientale offers a gourmet plunge into the Ligurian terroir, between tradition and conviviality.

What to see

Here you savour, in one of the oldest covered markets of Genoa founded in 1899 on a former cloister, the gourmet soul of Liguria: focaccia, fresh pasta, pesto alla genovese, olive oil of the Riviera and anchovies of the Ligurian Sea; inspired by the Boqueria of Barcelona, it deploys its stalls on two thousand square metres. The Mercato Orientale is a temple of Genoese gastronomy. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Mercato Orientale lies to the east of the centre of Genoa, near the Via XX Settembre and not far from the station, reachable on foot. It is a covered market whose hours and animation vary according to the days; you find there stalls of fresh products and food stands. It is best to enquire before coming.

What is the Mercato Orientale of Genoa?

It is one of the oldest covered markets of Genoa, founded in 1899 on the former cloister of a neighbouring church and named after its position to the east of the centre; inspired by the Boqueria of Barcelona and the Markthal of Rotterdam, it deploys on two thousand square metres stalls of Ligurian products, focaccia, fresh pasta, pesto, olive oil and anchovies.

Where is the Mercato Orientale in Genoa?

To the east of the centre of Genoa, near the Via XX Settembre, in Italy.