Showcasing at Casa RIA in early 2025, ‘Prazas de abastos’ pays homage to the traditional food markets, emphasizing the significance of direct food sales. This exhibition goes beyond the mere practicality of buying food, celebrating the rich cultural experience associated with these markets.
Exhibition open to the public
Available until May 2025
Curated by
Fundación RIA
Texts in Galician
Spanish and English translation available
Casa RIA
Mon – Sat, from 10 am to 5 pm
Food markets are key infrastructures in the Galician territory. Beyond their commercial function, these spaces structure the everyday life of towns and cities, connecting production and consumption, the rural and the urban, the past and the present.
The exhibition Prazas de abastos, curated by Fundación RIA, offers a reflection on the history, social role, and future of these municipal markets. Through graphic material, floor plans, current and historical photographs, the exhibition highlights the value of markets as spaces of direct connection with productive territories and as key platforms for the transition toward fairer, healthier, and more sustainable food systems.
In a context marked by changing consumption habits and urban and economic pressures, the exhibition raises several questions:
What role should food markets play today? How can we protect not only their architecture but also their activity and social function? What policies and strategies can strengthen their role as a central hub for local supply?
Prazas de abastos is part of a broader public program that includes talks, visits, and activities focused on food, territory, and local commerce.
Alongside this exhibition, Casa RIA hosts a special program that expands on these reflections through screenings, talks, gastronomic experiences, and much more:
As part of Casa RIA’s public programme exploring the role of markets in the territory, this talk will delve into the current challenges of food supply: what happens when there’s no product, or when there’s no one left to produce it?
The lack of generational renewal and the effects of climate change are forcing us to rethink not only how we eat, but also how we produce our food. In this discussion, we will talk about the changes already affecting producers, the need to move towards new models, and how to strengthen the ties between producers and consumers to ensure sustainable and local food systems.
→ Javier Quintáns Berride is the head of the Carril fishers’ guild, with a long career linked to fishing and shellfish production in the Arousa estuary.
→ David Sueiro is the founder of Galo Celta, a sustainable poultry farming project committed to animal welfare and short distribution chains.
→ Conchi do Campo is a horticultural technician at the Entrelampos Special Employment Centre.
Moderated by
→ Francisco García Fernández, rural development officer at the Juana de Vega Foundation
Javier Rivero and Unai Izaguirre, from the restaurant Ama, visit Casa RIA as part of the ‘Encontros de mercado’ series, an international program that aims to highlight the value of our local food markets.
From their restaurant in Tolosa (Gipuzkoa), the Ama team develops a cuisine based on seasonality and sustainability. Under the motto “the local protects us, let’s protect the local,” they strive to showcase the richness of small-scale producers in every dish they serve.
During their stay, Javier and Unai visit the Santiago market to discover local products and co-design a special menu in collaboration with Iago Pazos, which is served at A Cantina following their talk at Casa RIA.
Ruthie Rogers, chef and co-founder of The River Cafe in London, led the second event in this series with a special format: the live recording of an episode of her podcast Ruthie’s Table 4, where she talked with architect David Chipperfield about the role of markets and the importance of local production and gastronomy.
Eating habits not only reflect our identity but also the social, economic, and historical evolution of a region. This roundtable explores how our diet has changed and the impact food markets have had on that transformation, guided by four experts from different fields to delve into food culture and its connection to place:
→ Stefania Barca, Distinguished Researcher at USC (Histagra-CISPAC), provides an overview of changes in contemporary food systems and their environmental impacts from an ecofeminist perspective.
→ Xavier Castro, historian specializing in food culture, reflects on the evolution of the Galician diet and the factors that have influenced shifts in consumption habits.
→ Lourenzo Fernández, Professor of Contemporary History at USC (Histagra-CISPAC), offers a historical perspective on Galicia’s connection with agricultural, livestock, and seafood markets.
→ Jorge Guitián, food writer and communicator, addresses the current challenges of the Galician diet and its viability in today’s world.
The discussion is moderated by Inés Santé Riveira, expert in spatial planning with an extensive research and public administration background.
Food markets are spaces for gathering, knowledge sharing, and honoring culinary traditions. But they are also places of learning, where entrepreneurship and vocational training can find real-world connections.
In this open conversation, we welcome Almudena Ávalos, head of gastronomy at El País, and Ricardo Fernández, cooking and pastry instructor at the vocational training center Carlos Oroza in Pontevedra. Together, they explore the key role of markets as spaces for education and training, the importance of understanding and valuing the work of producers, and the challenge of linking culinary education with the professional sector.
An opportunity to reflect on the future of gastronomy from its roots: the products, the trades, and the know-how that sustain food quality.
Carolyn Steel, known for her book Sitopia and her advocacy for food sovereignty, opened the Encontros de mercado series with a visit to the Santiago market, where—accompanied by chef Iago Pazos—she explored the stalls to discover local and seasonal products that later featured in a special menu served that same day at A Cantina.
The day continued with a talk by Steel at Fundación RIA, where she shared her thoughts on the relationship between city and food, and emphasized the need to rethink food systems in order to create healthier and more sustainable urban spaces.
Food markets are essential components of Galicia’s food system, fundamental to supporting local and sustainable eating. Food strategies, along with initiatives that promote proximity-based consumption, play a decisive role in this transformation.
As part of Casa RIA’s public program on the role of markets in the territory, we invite four speakers to discuss Galician initiatives that, through networked consumption, promote sustainable food systems:
→ Emilio V. Carral, PhD in Biological Sciences, will share his experience with Eo Alimenta, a participatory initiative driving food strategies in the Eo river bioregion.
→ Claudia de Sas, landscape architect specialized in territorial planning and rural development at Fundación RIA, coordinates food transformation initiatives within the Laboratorio Ecosocial do Barbanza.
→ Manuel Jesús Rey will present the work of Nonéomesmo, a Compostela-based initiative that builds networks between farmers, shops, restaurants, and consumers to encourage local consumption.
→ Lucas Requejo will join us to talk about A Mariña Lab, a laboratory dedicated to securing the region’s future food production through innovation and sustainable development.
Do we really know what we drink? Why do we choose one wine over another? What presence does wine have in Galician food markets?
Cristina Alcalá and Mariña Fernández discuss wine in terms of quality, sustainability, ethics, and its ties to place. As part of the programming around food markets, they visit Casa RIA to share an open conversation on wine as cultural identity.
Afterward, the discussion continues with a wine tasting at A Cantina.
Senmais launched the “around the table” series, a format by A Cantina at Casa RIA designed to highlight voices, initiatives, and people who celebrate the territory through food and drink.
On this occasion, Ana Corredoira visits to share the work and products of Senmais, a cooperative project led by two families from Palas de Rei who, 20 years ago, committed to building a business model with a positive impact on the local area.
María Sánchez, veterinarian and author of Fuego la sed, visited Casa RIA to share her perspective on food markets and their relationship with the primary sector.
A curated selection of books, objects, and products related to food, showcasing over five days the deep role that eating plays in shaping our identity.
In collaboration with Compostela bookstores Numax, Couceiro, and CGAC, the market offers a wide range of publications focused on food, cooking, and territory.
In addition, the Christmas pop-up shop features designs by David Chipperfield Design in collaboration with brands Alessi and Wästberg, presenting a series of everyday objects found throughout Casa RIA.
Also available: garments and shopping accessories specially designed for the occasion, featuring textile designs by D-Due—the same brand that dresses the A Cantina team—handcrafted in Rianxo using natural fibers.
Finally, A Cantina offers a selection of sweets from its own bakery, as well as drinks and other homemade specialties that reflect values of proximity, seasonality, and conscious food culture.
