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Date Published: 18/07/2023

Cordoba opens its iconic street market at night to combat the heatwave

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Seville has also implemented a number of practical measures to help residents cope with the heat

Cordoba opens its iconic street market at night to combat the heatwave

Cordoba’s largest street market, El Arenal, is taking a financial beating during the succession of heatwaves hitting Andalucia this summer, with yet more red alerts in place this week warning citizens to avoid the sun in the middle of the day.

This spells disaster for stall holders, who are seeing the market crowds dwindle to nothing once 10 or 11am hits and the day begins to heat up.

“Older people cannot be here in the heat. What we are saying is that sellers may be losing up to 50%,” a spokesperson from the Association of Street Merchants of Córdoba (Comacor) explained.

To give stall holders a chance to make a living and to improve conditions for shoppers, the Cordoba city council has given permission for the market to run between 8pm and 1am on Friday July 21. Usually, El Arenal is open on Saturday mornings until 2pm.

“It is the first time that we are going to do it here in Córdoba, it will be a pilot test. We will see how the public reacts and if it goes well, our intention is that more like this one can be held”, the council said.

The idea, they stressed, is not to replace the daytime market, "but that there is an option, at least once a week for people who cannot go during the day, either due to the heat or their occupations."

Meanwhile in Seville, one of the Spanish cities most punished by the heatwaves, the local government has implemented a series of measures to keep its residents safe, particularly vulnerable groups like the elderly.

Salud Responde has set up a dedicated telecare service for the summer months that puts in regular calls to at-risk households, aimed at giving advice on how to cope with the high temperatures and reminding people to call them if the slightest symptom of heatstroke appears.

The telecare service has managed nearly 54,000 calls throughout Andalucia since June 1, with Seville leading the way (10,907 calls) and the government hasn’t ruled out extending the service beyond September 1 if the heat alerts continue.

In addition, several municipalities in the province have decided to open their public swimming pools at night on the hottest days so that residents can take a dip in the relative cool. Unfortunately, the capital city has only four such pools which didn’t open until July 1, but the mayor has learned his lesson and promises to open them at the beginning of June next year.

Now read: Now read: What to do (and what not to do!) if you get a sunburn

Image: ComerciantesAmbulantesCórdoba

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