Mercado del Puerto
| Port Market | |
|---|---|
| Native name Mercado del Puerto (Spanish) | |
 | |
| Location | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Coordinates | 34°54′21″S 56°12′42″W / 34.9057°S 56.2117°W |
| Founded | 10 October 1868 |
| Architectural style(s) | Eclecticism |
  Location of Port Market in Uruguay | |
The Mercado del Puerto (English: Port Market) is a gastronomic and cultural venue in the Ciudad Vieja neighborhood of Montevideo, Uruguay.[1] Originally built as a covered marketplace, it no longer functions as one and now houses restaurants serving traditional Uruguayan cuisine, with a focus on asado cooked over open-fire parrillas.[2]
Named for its proximity to the city's port, Mercado del Puerto is an important tourist site located in Montevideo's historic district.[3] The area also features live tango performances and displays of Uruguayan cultural traditions.[4] It is the site of an annual New Year's Eve midday celebration, where a large-scale street festival takes place featuring a traditional water and cider fight, drawing widespread participation from both local residents and international visitors.[5]
History
The Mercado del Puerto was established through the initiative of Spanish merchant Pedro Sáenz de Zumarán, who led a private company aiming to build one of the largest markets in South America.[6] The structure was designed by British engineers, with its iron components manufactured in Liverpool.[7] It was inaugurated on October 10, 1868, in the presence of President Lorenzo Batlle y Grau and his ministers.[8]
Established as a fruits and vegetables wholesale marketplace, it played a vital role in supplying both the port and the local population.[9] At the heart of its interior once stood a circular iron fountain, later replaced in 1897 by a four-faced clock, also imported from Liverpool, which remains a distinctive feature of the building.[10]
Over the course of the 20th century, the Mercado del Puerto underwent periods of both prosperity and decline. However, in the 1970s, it gradually shifted from a traditional market to a gastronomic and cultural hub.[11] The former produce stalls were replaced by restaurants specializing in traditional Uruguayan cuisine, alongside souvenir shops.[12] The building was designated a National Historic Monument in 1976.[13]
Since its refurbishment, it has become a renowned gastronomic complex and a major tourist destination in the city, surrounded by museums, artisan shops, and cultural institutions.[14] The Mercado del Puerto was the birthplace of the traditional Uruguayan drink Medio y Medio, a blend of sweet sparkling wine and dry white wine.[15] First created in the late 19th century at the Roldós bar, it became a popular festive beverage and continues to be produced today in various styles.[16]
References
- ^ grupoweb (2010-06-15). "Padrón 2606 - Mercado del Puerto". inventariociudadvieja.montevideo.gub.uy (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Mercado del Inmigrante y otras plazas de comida para disfrutar la gastronomía en Montevideo". EL PAIS. 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "El Mercado del Puerto sonríe con la vuelta de cruceros a la espera de una buena temporada". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Mercado del Puerto celebró este fin de semana sus 150 años". Montevideo Portal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Calor, sidra y despedida: así cierran el 2022 en el Mercado del Puerto". EL PAIS (in Spanish). 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Mercado del Puerto | Portal institucional". montevideo.gub.uy. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Mirada Benedetti". Mirada Benedetti. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Mercado del Puerto celebra sus 150 años con tres días de festejos". subrayado.com.uy (in Spanish). 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "El Mercado del Puerto de Montevideo, edificio patrimonial, celebra 150 años". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ Universal, Radio (2018-12-10). "El legendario Mercado del Puerto cumple 150 años". 970 Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Submundo". la diaria (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2025-05-18. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "MERCADO DEL PUERTO | Municipio B". municipiob.montevideo.gub.uy. Archived from the original on 2025-05-13. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Resolución N° 1280/975". www.impo.com.uy. Archived from the original on 2025-07-07. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "El Mercado del Puerto celebra 150 años desde su creación". Teledoce.com (in Spanish). 2018-12-14. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Una copa de medio y medio". Ambito. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Medio y Medio: un poco de historia y preparación - itMontevideo". montevideo.italiani.it (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-09-29. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
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