Who can still remember the ‘old’ Spain, back in the days of the peseta?

Alongside many positive developments, progress and globalisation have unfortunately also led to increasing uniformity in traditions, cuisine, fashion and consumer behaviour, with the result that many original features have been lost.

Franchise companies here, large chains there. The city centres of major cities are becoming increasingly similar, and even small towns are losing their unique charm.

This makes it all the more pleasant to come across something authentic that has hardly changed over the decades. This regularly includes the markets in medium-sized and small towns. The range of goods on offer is still very much geared to the needs of the local population, without fast food chains, chain restaurants, industrial bakery products or flagship stores taking over.

And so, even today, you can still shop at the Mercado de las Verónicas just as you did 50 years ago. Even small drugstores, which have been offering a virtually unchanged range of products for decades, sell perfumes and cleaning products that you won’t find in large department stores and supermarkets.

Local butchers and cheese counters sell international, national and local specialities.

But what stands out most are the small bars and pubs in the corners of the market. There, you can not only sample their small delicacies in the form of tapas, but also have the fish and shellfish you have just purchased a few metres away prepared for you.