This is one of the most beautiful fish markets you’ll ever go to. Situated next to the theatre, Rijeka’s fresh market was historically the place where the local fishermen would unload their goods and sell it to the citizens. The whole fresh market consists of two pavilions built in 1881,a fish market built in 1915, and numerous vendors providing the freshest vegetables, fruits, spices, and everything that you can usually find on fresh markets.

The fish pavilion is decorated with maritime flora and fauna themes and was two times the center of cultural events: for the opening ceremony of Rijeka – European Capital of Culture 2020, a huge party was organized there, and everybody was fascinated how the combination of history, culture, tradition, and modernity all fit so well together. And for the closing ceremony of the European Capital of Culture, there was a concert of local band Grč with Rijeka’s symphony orchestra, live-streamed. And yes, it did reek of fish, both times.

But apart from the cultural and architectural importance, and finding the best fish in town, there is one more thing that makes it worth visiting. In the gallery, you will find an art project called Work Site 5000. It is a series of video performances that question the meaning of work within a particular context. Here you can see two women carrying ice, one of the main jobs at the fish market. Don’t forget to peek out of the second-floor windows, the view is pretty neat.