2. STREET
"LAS TIENDAS"
(SHOPS)

Historically, and before the city layout was modified, this street was pure hustle and bustle. Its introduction into the commercial tradition begins with the division of the land after the Christian reconquest. These lands were outside the walls of the Arab barbican. Here, the orchards and vegetable gardens were distributed among the nuns of Arjona, and next to them the greengrocers were established. These orchards were irrigated by a water canal from the Old Square, which powered the mill next to which the grain trade building was built.

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The majestic building of "El Pósito", which today is a centre for cultural initiatives, was established in the XVI century in the Plaza Nueva, which was created for this purpose under the design of Juan de Maeda (disciple of Siloé). Its main use was as a municipal wheat and barley warehouse to which the grain trade building and the soap factory were attached. Other uses were a credit institution for farmers, a point of collection of duties and price control for harvests, and also as a storage area for grain during years of drought.

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In its beginnings, the northeast part of the square was an open-air flea market, which points to its mercantile tradition. This market evolved over time. Already in the XIX century, the square was made up of numerous wooden huts forming a main street and three other perpendicular ones, resulting in a beautiful part of town shaded beneath huge plane trees, in the Moorish bazaar style. At the beginning of the XX century, a masonry market was built to which the stalls were moved until its demolition, and later, in 1982, the current one was constructed. Here, until recently, you could find bread, meat, fish or flowers, and new products every day, which delighted the people of Loja.