Mercado da Madalena, Market in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

The Mercado da Madalena is a market building in Recife containing roughly 180 stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat across nearly 1000 square meters. The administrative area retains its original design, while ground-level spaces have been updated to accommodate restrooms and storage areas.

The market was founded on February 6, 1925 and opened on October 19 that same year with the governor Sérgio Loreto present. The Madalena neighborhood had previously been a sugar-producing area during the colonial period before becoming an important commercial center.

The market's original name, Mercado do Bacurau, refers to a bird that sings at dawn, because it first opened only at night. Next to the market is a well-known bird fair. On Saturdays, migrants from across the Northeast gather around the Box Sertanejo, a stall that serves as their meeting point in Recife.

The outdoor food court attached to the market serves regional dishes around the clock, so it is the part to look for outside conventional shopping hours. The 180 stalls sit inside the covered building, while the adjacent bird fair is reached from the outside. Saturdays draw sellers from across the Northeast, who gather around the Box Sertanejo.

The market's original name, Mercado do Bacurau, refers to a nightjar, a bird active at dawn and dusk, because the market first opened only at night. Its front portal displays the old coat of arms of Recife. Next to the market is a well-known bird fair, and on Saturdays people from the interior gather around Box Sertanejo.