Ver-o-Peso Market, Largest open-air market in Latin America in Belém, Brazil
Ver-o-Peso Market is a large marketplace sprawling along Guajará Bay in Belém, consisting of multiple sections that operate daily with thousands of visitors. The stalls display fresh fish, tropical fruits, spices, handicrafts, and regional products sourced from the Amazon region.
The market's name originated in colonial times when Portuguese officials weighed goods at this location for tax collection, establishing its role as a trading hub. This inspecting and commerce tradition shaped its development into a major center for regional Amazon trade.
Local vendors sell traditional medicinal herbs, regional fruits like cupuaçu and bacuri, and fresh açaí that reflect authentic Amazonian food culture. Walking through the stalls, you can observe how residents shop for everyday ingredients and discover plants used in local home remedies.
The market opens early in the morning when boats arrive with fresh fish and the best selection is available. You'll have the best experience visiting early, as the selection decreases and the crowd changes as the day progresses.
The iron market is a dodecagon of 1,197 m², assembled from prefabricated zinc Vieille-Montagne sections shipped from England and New York and brought upriver to Belém. It was designed by Henrique La Rocque and opened in 1901, replacing the 1625 Casa de Haver-o-Peso. The building appears in the music video for "No Chão Novinha" (2021) and in the second season of the Netflix series Cidade Invisível (2023).
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