Mercato del Carmine, Former church and market hall in Lucca, Italy

The Mercato del Carmine occupies the former church of Santa Maria del Carmine in central Lucca, between via del Carmine, via San Gregorio, via Antonio Mordini and piazza del Carmine. Inside, the church structure remains legible: a large hall with a pitched roof of dark metal trusses and glazed panels along the ridge, pale weathered plaster walls, and an upper gallery of round arches on pilasters above a lower arcade of deeper arches on square pillars. The facade was rebuilt in the first half of the 20th century, with "MERCATO" in dark capitals above a tall arched window; the former bell tower now serves as a clock tower.

The present building stands on the site of the Renaissance church of San Pier Cigoli, also called Santa Maria del Carmine, with its Carmelite convent. Of the church, a Sacra conversazione altarpiece by Michelangelo di Pietro Membrini survives, now in the Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi. The facade was rebuilt for the market in the first half of the 20th century, and the former bell tower serves as a clock tower.

The building's name recalls the Carmelite church of Santa Maria del Carmine that stood here; the former bell tower now serves as the clock tower. Inside, fruit and vegetable stalls occupy the centre, while butchers, fishmongers, grocers and confectioners line the perimeter facing the surrounding streets. The hall also hosts craft and art exhibitions and concerts.

The hall sits between via del Carmine, via San Gregorio, via Antonio Mordini and piazza del Carmine, all pedestrian streets in the walled centre. Inside, fruit and vegetable stalls fill the middle of the floor while butchers, fishmongers, grocers and confectioners line the perimeter, facing the surrounding streets. The former bell tower of the Carmine church now serves as a clock tower, useful for orientation.

The church's altarpiece, a Sacra conversazione by Michelangelo di Pietro Membrini, was moved to the Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi and survives there. The former bell tower of Santa Maria del Carmine now serves as a clock tower. The adjoining cloister of the Carmelite convent is still in fair condition.