Built in the Modernista style, with lots of wrought iron and stained glass, Valencia’s central market is one of the most beautiful in all of Spain. Look around the colourful range of fresh produce on display at more than 1000 stalls, and you’ll see why Valencia is called Spain’s orchard.

The windows bear the red and yellow striped insignia of the Vatican kingdom and there’s a huge cupola, encrusted with elaborate mosaics. The semi-enclosed hall that contains the fish market is perhaps the eye-catching area of the market. Again, there is an amazing array of produce on display and another cupola, this one playfully adorned with ceramic fish. When gazing up at the roof from outside, you’ll also spot the market’s many delicate, wrought-iron weathervanes. The most famous is the green parrot. It is called la cotorra del mercat. Strictly speaking, this means the market’s parrot. But cotorra also translates as “chatter box” – a sly jibe directed at the gossipy stallholders.