Municipal Market of Montemor-o-Novo

Category: Civil Architecture > Municipal Market

District: Évora > Montemor-o-Novo > Montemor-o-Novo > Bairro de São Pedro

Location

The Montemor-o-Novo Municipal Market is located in the Bairro de São Pedro, an urban area of the town. Its position integrates it into the daily life of the Alentejo village.

A Building with History

This building, initially known as the Agricultural Market, has a history dating back to the mid-20th century. Its construction began in 1935 but was only completed and inaugurated in 1945, a period marked by global and economic challenges. Its construction represented an important step for the organization of local trade, replacing the old open-air markets that took place in the town squares, such as Largo das Palmeiras and Praça Cândido dos Reis, where fruits, vegetables, and fish were sold.

Architecture and Structure

With a quadrangular layout, the Municipal Market stands out for its interior courtyard. In the center of this courtyard, there is a simple limestone fountain with a quatrefoil basin and four spouts, topped by a sphere. The building has been recognized for its architectural value over the years. Recently rehabilitated, it maintains its essential function as a traditional market, while offering renewed conditions and a harmonious environment inside.

The Art of Azulejo

One of the most striking elements of the Municipal Market is the profuse use of azulejo (tile) as adornment. The exterior walls of the building are covered with figurative tile panels in shades of blue and white. These panels depict traditional professions and activities, linked to the rural and regional daily life of the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo. Each panel is carefully framed by polychrome borders, combining vegetal scrolls in blue and yellow with elements such as pinecones and foliage in green, gray, and black. Most of these works, nine in total, were created at Fábrica Sant’Anna during the 1940s and 1950s, and are signed by the painter Rogério Amaral. An additional panel, authored by Clara Gomes, was produced at Cerâmica Velha de Ourém, complementing this remarkable decorative ensemble.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt