Weekly markets in the municipality of Torre Pacheco

Weekly markets in Torre Pacheco, Roldán, Balsicas, Dolores de Pacheco, San Cayetano and El Jimenado

Torre Pacheco

Day: Saturday, in Avenida de Fontes, Calle Dr. Marañón, Calle Navarro de Haro.

This is the largest of the street markets within the Torre Pacheco municipality with 160 stalls, and remains open until 15.00.

A wide range of goods are on offer including: fruit and vegetables, meat, roast chicken stand selling whole roast chickens, churros ( doughnut sticks coated with sugar), nuts and nibbles, cakes, bread  and pastries, textiles and fabrics, kitchenware and household goods, cosmetics and household cleaning items, plants and flowers, gift items (watches, glasses, toys) as well as jewellery, clothing and shoes.

The market is the closest large event of its kind to Mar Menor Golf Resort.

Roldán

Day: Monday mornings in Avenida José Armero Tovar.

This is on a much smaller scale than the main Torre Pacheco market, althoug a wide range of goods is again available. The market is closer to the developments of La Torre Golf Resort, Las Terrazas de la Torre and El Valle Golf Resort.

Balsicas

Day: Thursday from 15.00 to 21.00, in Calle Catorce de Diciembre

This is a small weekly market and is unusual in that it takes place on a Thursday afternoon, rather than in the morning.

There are generally around 20 stalls, selling fruit and veg, meat, nuts and nibbles, cakes, bread and pastries, kitchen and household cleaning products, flowers and plants, personal accessories, clothing and footwear.

Dolores de Pacheco

Day: Tuesdays during the afternoon in Plaza Nicolás de las Peñas.

This is a small weekly market which takes place on Tuesday afternoons. There are generally around 20 stalls, selling fruit and veg, meat, nuts and nibbles, cakes, bread and pastries, kitchen and household cleaning products, flowers and plants, personal accessories, clothing and footwear.

San Cayetano

Day : Wednesday mornings in Calle Gutiérrez Mellado, beginning at 6.00.

This small market features around 15 stalls.

El Jimenado

The market is held every Wednesday morning in the area known as Las Peñas, the location in which the local annual fiestas are held. Again it is a small affair, with between 15 and 20 stalls selling a variety of food and other products.

Tips

For many expats and visitors, one of the great joys of shopping in Spain is the opportunity to buy fresh products and bargain clothes in the weekly local markets, which are awash with colour and noise as shoppers jostle for space, queue to be served, stand and chat, get in each other’s way and generally socialize as they go about the business of stocking up on food and picking out other bargains.

For newcomers, a couple of tips: don’t be scared to choose your own fruit and veg (otherwise you may be given the bruised items!), check that the amount you’re charged is related to the marked prices. In addition, as at markets the world over it is advisable to be aware of the risk of being pickpocketed. Please take care with handbags, purses, wallets and loose cash, and avoid taking important documents such as passports or ID to street markets.

But that makes it sound as though the markets are simply a hotbed for petty crime: not the case at all, and the best advice of all is to bear these precautions in mind while rummaging, searching around and enjoying the organized chaos of the event!

For more local events, news and other information visit the Torre Pacheco section of Murcia Today, or click here for more markets in the Mar Menor area.