Mercado Central de Santiago, Food market in Santiago, Chile
Mercado Central de Santiago is a food market in Santiago commune, Chile, housed in a metal building with a central pyramidal roof and a domed tower. Eight smaller roofs surround this main area and cover the different sections of the marketplace.
Mayor Benjamin Vicuña Mackenna opened this market in 1872 after a fire destroyed the earlier trading place called Plaza del Abasto. The city administration commissioned a Scottish company to build the new structure that remains standing today.
Vendors here offer fresh seafood directly from the Pacific while visitors move through the rows sampling traditional Chilean dishes such as ceviche or fried fish platters. The stalls also sell local specialties like papaya and other native produce that reflect the daily life of the city.
This market offers free wireless internet in its corridors and central square so visitors can stay connected while shopping. Those who arrive early in the morning will find the freshest goods and experience the busiest time of day.
The cast-iron roof and supporting framework came from Glasgow and were manufactured by the Scottish firm R Laidlaw & Sons. These parts were shipped to Chile and assembled on site, giving the building its particular architectural character.
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