Mercado Central

— Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer said: “Curves are the essence of my work because they are the essence of Brazil, pure and simple.” Although he did not design the Mercado Central in my hometown of Fortaleza, one can easily see and feel the essence of Brazil in that five-story mega shopping center. You will not find brand names there, of course. The entire Mercado is nothing but artisans and their craft. Anything from shoes with rubber soles made of old car tires to apparel using local yarn and household items and local food can be found there. Everything is one of a kind.

Of course, whenever one visits Fortaleza, this is a must-go place. Even locals make time to go there to get some unique items for their home, friends, or relatives. Located right Fortaleza‘s Metropolitan Cathedral, the Mercado Central has its own parking area. In addition to shops selling just anything you can imagine with a local flavor or twist, one can also find restaurants and eateries featuring the local cuisine. It is truly a one-stop for everything.

This photo was made on Feb. 25, 2004. It was enhanced using Topaz Gigapixel AI and edited in Lightroom and Luminar AI.