Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos, Marketplace in Matosinhos, Portugal
The Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos is a classified market building in Matosinhos, Portugal, situated near the port of Leixões and the crossroads of Rua Brito Capelo. The building has two levels built into a gentle slope, with the lower floor dedicated to fish and the upper floor to other produce and goods.
A design contest launched in 1936 led to ARS Arquitectos being commissioned in 1939, with architects Fortunato Cabral, Morais Soares, and Cunha Leão drawing up the final plans. Construction began in 1944 after a block of houses was cleared, and the market opened on May 27, 1952.
At the Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos, locals shop daily for fresh fish, vegetables, and fruit. Vendors and customers often know each other by name, giving the market a sense of familiarity that supermarkets rarely offer.
The market is open Tuesday to Friday until early evening, Saturday until late afternoon, and Monday mornings only, with no opening on Sundays. Some entrances stay open until midnight from Tuesday to Saturday to serve nearby restaurants.
The roof is a thin curved concrete vault spanning more than 125 feet (38 meters), held up by inclined pillars rather than vertical walls. It was designed to use as little iron as possible because the material was scarce and costly during the wartime years when construction was planned.
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