Mercado San Camilo, Public market in Arequipa District, Peru

Mercado San Camilo is a public market spanning three city blocks with hundreds of vendor stalls organized in different sections. The space features iron-roofed structures selling regional products including fresh produce, meat, and local goods throughout its layout.

The site held the church and convent of the Order of San Camilo, built in 1801 and collapsed in the 1868 earthquake. Traders then occupied the plot, and the market opened in the open air on 6 January 1881. The first stone of the building was laid in 1910 and the covered market was inaugurated on 1 May 1938.

Vendors sell traditional Arequipa dishes like stuffed rocoto peppers, hearty stews, and regional cheeses from nearby valleys. The place buzzes with locals choosing ingredients and eating at food counters throughout the day.

The market sits about 600 meters from Plaza de Armas and is easy to reach on foot from the city center. Visiting in the morning or early afternoon gives you the best selection and a more comfortable experience without heavy crowds.

The metal roof and pillar structure was designed by engineers Julio Ángulo Arce and Óscar López Aúja, with support from the Compañía Metalúrgica del Sena. The oldest facade, on Alto de la Luna street, is neorenaissance in style and shows the transition from 19th- to 20th-century construction techniques.