Mercado del Puerto

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]

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