Old Portal de Mercaderes, Sección que conforma el lado este de la Plaza de la Constitución en la Ciudad de México
Old Portal de Mercaderes is a historic building in the heart of the city with thick stone walls and archways that date back centuries when merchants sold their goods here. The structure features a series of arches and wooden beams that create a rustic feel and now house cafes and small shops throughout the space.
The space originated in the 1520s when the city council allowed property owners to build covered archways in front of their shops and rent them to merchants. After a major flood in 1629 destroyed many structures, rebuilding efforts increased the number of arches and shops in this area.
The name Portal de Mercaderes refers to its origins as a covered marketplace for traders buying and selling goods. Today visitors and locals walk through the arched walkways to browse shops, sit at cafes, and experience how the space connects commerce with daily social life.
The site sits on the west side of the Zócalo, the main square, and is easy to reach on foot. The archways provide shelter from rain, allowing visitors to walk through the space comfortably in any weather.
The structure was founded in the 1500s as the first institution to sell food and goods, organized by Melchor Davila, a key figure in rebuilding the city after the Spanish conquest. Over the centuries merchants sold silk, fruits, medicinal herbs and later hats and toys, making it a popular meeting point for traders and visitors.
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