Iron structure
Paris-style.
Nathalia Verony — CC BY 2.0 · Dave Lonsdale — CC BY 2.0 · Rudá de Ourofino — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dave Lonsdale — CC BY 2.0 · Nathalia Verony — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rudá de Ourofino — CC BY-SA 4.0 · guilherme jofili — CC BY 2.0 · FilRB — CC BY 3.0
The São José Market is a public market in Recife's São José district, opened on 7 September 1875, Brazil's second-oldest public market and the country's first prefabricated iron building. The French engineer Louis Léger Vauthier designed it after the Grenelle market in Paris, in the neoclassical frame of 19th-century European markets, and it is listed by the national heritage institute. The site was once the «Ribeira do Peixe» square, crowded with fruit, vegetable and fish stalls. The market has been renovated several times: in 1906, in 1941 when its shutters were replaced with cobogó blocks, and after a serious fire in 1989, reopening in 1994. It sells fish, spices, herbs, crafts and cordel booklets, the folk poetry hung on strings. Note: major restoration works have been under way since January 2024 and are expected to end in 2027, with the craft sellers moved to a temporary annex nearby. Check which parts are open before visiting.
Paris-style.
Folk poetry.
And fish.
São José district, central Recife
Forte das Cinco Pontas (Recife City Museum)Forte das Cinco Pontas, the Fort of the Five Points, was built by the Dutch in 16 minutes walk4.5
Ponte Maurício de NassauThe Maurice of Nassau Bridge links the old island of Recife with the Santo Antôn7 minutes walk4.6
Casa da Cultura (Recife)The Casa da Cultura is Recife's biggest crafts centre, set in the former House o8 minutes walk4.7
Teatro de Santa IsabelThe Santa Isabel Theatre is a rare example of genuine neoclassical architecture 11 minutes walk4.9
MAMAM (Aloisio Magalhães Museum of Modern Art)The Aloisio Magalhães Museum of Modern Art, MAMAM, is a museum in central Recife11 minutes walk4.7Partly, with craft sellers in a nearby annex; check before going.