Mercado da Graça

In the centre of Ponta Delgada, the Mercado da Graça is the meeting point of the island’s farmers, fishermen and cooks. Its halls hold the fish of the Azores, the fruit of São Miguel and the cheeses of the archipelago, in a daily display of the islands’ larder.

History and identity

The market carries the name of its square, Largo da Graça, and has served the city since the nineteenth century, when Ponta Delgada was the busy capital of the Azorean trade. Its halls were renewed over time, but the market kept its role as the great shop window of São Miguel’s agriculture and fishing.

What to find and discover

• The fish stalls, with tuna, limpets and the catch of the island’s boats.
• The fruit and vegetable halls, with Azorean pineapple and passion fruit.
• The cheeses, jams and liqueurs of the islands.
• The city around it — the gates, churches and harbour of Ponta Delgada.

Products and specialities

The Azores’ signature products are at home here: pineapple from the glasshouses, passion fruit, tea, cheeses and the fish that drives the islands’ cooking — above all tuna, served in the traditional Azorean way.

Nearby

The market is steps from the centre of Ponta Delgada, and the Museu Carlos Machado tells the story of the island’s life and trade.

Visiting

The market is in the centre of Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel, reached on foot from the city centre. It works every morning except Sundays, with variations on holidays; check the official pages before your visit.

Information: cm-pontadelgada.pt.

Image credit: Mercado da Graça, Ponta Delgada, by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.