Easily accessible by foot or train, Mercado Municipal Paulistano is a hub for gourmet and local food. Vendors from nearly 300 stalls offer a vast selection of fruits, nuts, fresh juices, chocolates, spices, fish, meat, and many other specialties that are produced in and around Brazil – from the northern reaches of the Amazon rainforest to the southern expanse of the Pantanal wetlands. While tourists enjoy sampling local delicacies, locals come to the market to stock up on necessities and to sample gourmet goods that have been imported from around the world. (A favorite amongst locals and tourists alike is the world-famous Brazilian Mortadella sandwich, which is made with up to a half pound of Italian pork sausage.) The building’s many entrances enable visitors to wander in and out at their leisure, allowing them to enjoy the building’s architecture and striking stained glass from both interior and exterior perspectives. There are tables and chairs lining the open aisles, which provide ample space for social interaction and for visitors to relax while savoring goods that have been prepared by one of the market’s many stands.

Centrally located in the heart of old Sao Paulo on the west bank of the Tamanduateí River, the Municipal Market is a traditional meeting point for Paulistanos (locals) and a popular site for tourists. Known by city residents as the Mercadão (Big Market), the neo-classical stone building in which the market is located was built in 1932 and designed by architect Ramos de Azevedo. The market didn’t open until 1933, though, as it was used for a year to store weapons and ammunition for Brazil’s Constitutionalist Revolution.

The market building is known both for its size (12,600 square meters) and for the enormous stained glass windows that adorn its facade. Designed by Russian artist Sorgenicht Conrad Filho, these panels are reminiscent famous Brazilian churches, since Filho designed the stained glass for over 300 of them. Unlike his work for these religious monuments, however, each of the panels for Sao Paulo’s Mercado Municipal depict various aspects of agriculture and food production. A 2004 renovation restored these beautiful windows, and also added a mezzanine level to the market, which now hosts a number of restaurants and cafés.

Image credits: Jack Zalium via Flickr, Luiz Felipe Castro via Flickr, Javier Corcuera,Wally Gobetz via Flickr, Michael Renner via Flickr, Arthur Luiz via Flickr

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