Riga Central Market

Riga Central Market

 I think Riga is a capital that has to be discovered! Riga Central Market, which opened in 1930, is one of the biggest markets in whole Europe. It is composed of about 72,000 square meters outside and inside some hangars, which were used once as a deposit for German Zeppelin; in addition, it is also the most visited market in whole Europe with an average of 80,000 – 100,000 visitors per day!

It is located just 10 minutes walking from the Old Town, just in front of the river Daugava.

I really love markets because they represent the essence of the city, its history, its people, its colours can all be seen and lived in the market, crowded places not of tourists but full of local people.

The market is a place where you can meet local people, in particular, old women willing to chat, for this reason, it is a perfect place where to practice Russian language outside the school, because it allows you to shop and to meet new people and tell your own experience, challenge yourself and listen to other people’s stories.

                        This market is composed of different pavilions in which local products are sold, fresh products such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, meat and fish.

It is open every day from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sellers are always very willing, gentle and kind: for me, Riga Central Market has become a must. There I can save money when shopping and I can live and experience the local city, speak and practice Russian and get to know a different culture.

Immediately, when a dear lady understands that you are a foreign but that you also speak Russian they get closer to ask you questions about yourself, your life, what are you doing in Riga, and why are you studying Russian until they tell you interesting facts about the story of their lives and the city of Riga; you will feel immediately at home, welcomed by everyone, that you don’t even realise time spent chatting with people.

I think it is a very beautiful way to live a city, an experience that at the supermarket would be difficult to live because everything is much more detached and emotionless.

Colours you can find at the market are infinite and they convey to it a particular atmosphere: the period I like the most is the beginning of May, when after the cold winter the sun begins to warm up and the market is full of summer fruits` colours like strawberries, peaches, apricots and stands full of different types of flowers.

I really like walking along fresh fruits and flowers` stands to perceive a joyful and springy environment.

When you are looking for something typical it is important to go to the market of the city because the experience you have here can’t be lived anywhere else.

                        Not only can you buy food at the central market, but also clothes, kitchen equipment and a lot of other objects, useful in your daily life.

                        A thing that impressed me about the market and that represents the city of Riga is their silent personality; on the other hand in Italy, we are completely the opposite: sellers at the market keep on shouting to be heard and show themselves and their products so that the customer will choose them instead of the competition. In Riga it doesn’t happen, a lot of stands sell strawberries even at different prices, one higher, the other lower but it doesn’t seem to be a competition between them even though they are one next to the other, they just wait the customer will choose them.    

This silent behaviour reflects Latvian people’s personality: silent, quiet but still gentle with everyone. Blatant evidence that the market represents everyday life of a country!