Photos

Mercado Municipal, São Paulo.

Covering almost three acres, the Mercado Municipal (municipal market) illustrates the “coffee culture” architectural style of Brazil (dating from 1933). This elegant, neo-classical construct shelters 319 stalls where all manner of edible goods are purchased in a well-kept environment by 20,000 customers daily. One is struck by the cleanliness of the public spaces and by that of the city in general. We suggest a lunch on the first floor of bacalao pastels (pastries). Inherited from the Portuguese, bacalao—dried and salted cod prepared with potatoes in a brandade—is a favorite Brazilian dish, along with feijoada or black bean ragout. Mortadella sandwiches are also popular.

From http://www.gayot.com/travel/citytrips/saopaulo.html