Napoleon’s brother José Bonaparte was crowned King of Spain during the French occupation and during his reign, the church of San Miguel was demolished in 1809. What was left behind was a public square and a food market, mostly selling fish. For proper sanitation and food preservation, a cast-iron market was built between 1913 and 1916 by the architect Alfonso Dubé. He was inspired by the French style of Les Halles in Paris. If you fancy some oysters with champagne for breakfast, let’s call this a day and spend hours on end tasting delicious food! This is a gourmet market for those sophisticated taste buds that can appreciate the sheer flavour of a course prepared by Michelin-awarded chefs. It goes without saying that prices are a bit high, but should you feel like splurging on high-quality artisanal products and regional delicacies, such as the best Manchego cheese and Iberian jamón or fresh seafood arriving daily from Galicia, hands-down, this is your paradise!