Abelardo L. Rodriguez Market, Public market in Historic Center, Mexico City, Mexico

Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market is a 12,450-square-metre food market built in 1934, with four entrances on República de Venezuela, República de Colombia, Del Carmen and Rodríguez Puebla streets. Its central patio is covered by a metal roof, and the upper floor holds the Teatro del Pueblo auditorium. About 1,450 square metres of walls and ceilings carry murals by ten painters, including Isamu Noguchi's copper-plated relief Historia de México.

Built in 1934 on part of the grounds of the San Pedro y San Pablo College, the market was designed by Antonio Muñoz and named after President Abelardo L. Rodríguez, who ordered its construction. It was the second major public market built in Mexico City in the early 20th century, after the 1912 Dos de Abril Market. Ten painters, six Mexican, three American and one Japanese, painted about 1,450 square metres of murals under Diego Rivera's direction, paid 13.50 pesos per square metre.

The murals depict workers and social scenes that reflect Mexico during the 1930s, offering visitors insight into how local artists represented daily life. You can view these artworks while walking through the market sections and around the stalls.

The market has four separate entrances that lead to different sections, making it easy to navigate different areas. Morning visits typically offer better visibility and more relaxed conditions than busier afternoon hours.

Isamu Noguchi, the Japanese-American sculptor among the ten painters, made a copper-plated relief called Historia de México on the upper floor, where fists, swastikas, skeletons and Einstein's formula E=mc² appear. His work alone has been valued at two million dollars, yet most visitors walk past it.