The Lonja de Pescado Exhibition halls, Alicante City
Annual art exhibitions and events are held in Alicante’s old fishing market
Just metres back from the port in Alicante city and in front of El Parque de las Canalejas is the old fishing market, the Lonja de Pescado, in Paseo Almirante Julio Guillén Tato. The Lonja is a historical building with Maghreb-style architecture dating back to the early twentieth century when the Port Board of Works commissioned it to be built by the civil engineer Próspero Lafarga in 1917.
The building is painted white and yellow with arched windows and consists of a large longitudinal nave with several sections that jut out to form small courtyards surrounded by tall black gates. After years of being a fishing market it became the property of the city of Alicante, when it was then restored and turned into an exhibition hall that opened in 1992, although the Port Board of Works has announced that there are plans to reopen the fishing market for business in 2016/17.
Since 1992 the Lonja de Pesado has hosted a number of art exhibitions for painting, sculptures and nature art, as well as running various activities such as book presentations, historical talks, award ceremonies, charity events and even puppet shows, all of which have taken place in one of the three large function rooms in the building.
All of the exhibition rooms are free to visit out of activity hours when visitors can view the startic display of artworks which are in place throughout the year, as well as learning about the history of the fishing industry in Alicante.
Visiting hours:
January to June and September to December
Tuesdays to Fridays: 09:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 21:45
Saturdays: 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:45
Sundays and holidays: 10:00 to 14:00
Mondays: Closed
July and August
Tuesday to Saturdays: 16:00 to 21:45
