Mercado Modelo, Historic market hall in Comércio, Salvador, Brazil.
Mercado Modelo is a neoclassical market hall in the Comércio district of Salvador, Brazil. The two-story building contains 266 shops and spans a rectangular footprint overlooking the Bay of All Saints.
The building was erected in 1861 as a customs house and served to control goods passing through the port of Salvador. After a fire in 1984, the structure was faithfully reconstructed and reopened the following year.
The arcades and aisles display handmade musical instruments such as berimbaus and atabaques, used in Afro-Brazilian capoeira and candomblé ceremonies. Local artisans sell carvings, colorful cloths, and amulets that play a role in the religious practice of the region.
The entrance is located near the Elevador Lacerda and can be reached on foot from the port. The aisles on the ground floor are wider and easier to navigate than the stairs to the upper level.
Two restaurants on the upper floor serve traditional Bahian dishes such as moqueca and acarajé in spaces that were once part of the administrative area. The windows offer an unobstructed view of ships docking in the bay.
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