Barcelos Thursday Market

The guide book told us that this was the biggest market in Europe.  Now we're not ones for big markets, too much walking and tatty merchandise.  This market however is like markets of old in the UK.  Sheep, cattle, goats, chickens etc.  We decided to give it a go.

As always market days in any town makes for a lot of traffic and precious little parking space.  Barcelos was no different, but we managed to park in a side street just out side the main part of town and walk in.

The sites and sounds were amazing.  We had got there too late to see the cattle being sold but there were chickens and rabbits in abundance.  It was a real education watching the Portuguese men weigh up which fully grown hens to buy.  The rabbits also looked fully grown but what intrigued us was that none of them tried to escape or run away.  They lay very quietly side by side along with the hens waiting to be bought.  We don't know, but expect that they would be bought to place in a pot, not to be reared and loved!!!!

The flowers at this market had to be seen to be believed.  Every colour, size, shape and scent.  We learnt after visiting the tourist office that on the Saturday there was going to be a big annual celebration called 'Battle of the Flowers'.  Whether there were more flowers on sale than usual because of this we don't know, but it was lovely to see so many.

Below are some of the photos we took of the rabbits and chickens at the market.  They don't do it justice because you can't put atmosphere in the pictures, but will give you a feel for it.