Covered markets have long been places where daily life, stories, and traditions come together, embodying urban identity and social exchange rather than serving solely as retail venues. As urban landscapes and consumer habits shift, many of these historic spaces face an uncertain future, pressured by digitalisation, changing tourism patterns, and urban transformation. To address this, the Enterprise Europe Network is supporting the creation of a European network of historic covered markets, promoting their digital and sustainable transition while protecting their cultural identity. More than ten markets are already involved, and work is under way to launch an International Association designed to function as a living community of practice rather than a symbolic network.

The effort began when Florence’s Historic Covered Market celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024 and set a new goal: to rethink the role of traditional markets in today’s cities. What started as cooperation between Florence and Eurosportello Confesercenti quickly grew into a wider initiative focused on shared challenges such as modernising infrastructure, improving accessibility, adapting traditional retail to digital tools, strengthening ties with local authorities, and reinforcing the social and economic role of markets within local communities and SME ecosystems.

By early 2024, outreach had brought new cities on board, from Santander and Cork to Berlin, Copenhagen, Riga, Kyoto, and Jerusalem. A turning point came at the International Markets Event in Florence in April 2024, which led to bilateral exchanges with La Boqueria in Barcelona and the inclusion of Budapest’s Central Market Hall, recognised for sustainable management and good practices.

By mid-2025, five cooperation agreements had been signed, and several markets had completed digital and sustainability assessments supported by EEN, helping define baseline levels of digitisation and environmental performance. Florence began working with Tuscany X.0 to start its digital transformation. These actions align with Europe’s Twin Transition, combining sustainability and digital innovation while safeguarding cultural heritage.

In November 2025, the project took part in BTO – Buy Tourism Online in Florence, where representatives of historic covered markets from Florence, Barcelona (La Boqueria) and Kyoto (Nishiki) discussed how heritage spaces can balance tourism pressures with innovation and authenticity.

Earlier, in October 2025, the International Association of Historic Covered Markets was formally constituted in Florence, with the Historic Covered Market of Florence and La Boqueria as its founding pillars, bringing together more than ten committed markets into a permanent community of practice.

Later in November 2025, the Association met at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, together with national delegations, to initiate the procedure for a transnational heritage nomination of historic covered markets. The objective is to submit the candidacy by the end of 2026, with the aim of securing long-term protection, increased international visibility, and improved access to heritage-related funding.

Common barriers remain, such as balancing tradition with digital change, managing complex governance, and ensuring that investment supports both local shoppers and visitors. With more than ten markets committed, the foundations are now in place for a scalable, cooperative model that demonstrates how historic markets can drive sustainable, community-centred urban regeneration across Europe and beyond.