Mercado Público de Florianópolis, Historic marketplace in central Florianópolis, Brazil

Mercado Público de Florianópolis is a marketplace in downtown Florianópolis with two connected wings housing stores, restaurants, and artisanal shops arranged around a covered central courtyard. The layout flows naturally between shopping areas and dining spaces, making it easy to navigate between both sides.

Built in 1899 near the old Customs House, the marketplace replaced a previous trading space that had operated for 45 years at Largo da Matriz. This relocation reshaped how the downtown area developed and became a new center for commerce and activity.

The market's name comes from its role as the public trading ground of Desterro, as Florianópolis was called until 1893. Its stalls historically sold fish, sun-dried meat, beans, rice, cassava and vegetables brought from the island and nearby mainland. Vendors were mostly enslaved earners, freed people and poor whites, and the clientele included sailors, soldiers and travellers.

Visitors should note that different areas have varying operating hours, particularly between retail shops and restaurants. The covered central courtyard provides shelter from rain and sun, making it comfortable to explore at any time of day.

The market's two wings were only joined in 1931, when the south wing, the linking bridges and the central bay were built on reclaimed land. A 2016 roof over the central bay was chosen by national competition and had to avoid touching the historic walls, so rain still blows in.