Bolhão Market is one of the most emblematic markets in the city of Porto, Portugal. Its construction is characterized by its monumentality, typical of neoclassical architecture. The vendors in the market are distributed across two floors. There are four main entrances at different levels: the south entrance provides access to the ground floor via Rua Formosa; the side entrances via Rua de Sá da Bandeira and Rua Alexandre Braga provide access to an intermediate level with staircases connecting both floors; and finally, the north entrance via Rua de Fernandes Tomás provides direct access to the upper floor.
Bolhão Market focuses primarily on fresh produce, especially food. The vendors are divided into different specialized sections, namely: fishmongers, butchers, vegetables, and flowers. Outside the building, there are shops selling other goods, such as clothing, snacks, perfumes, fabrics, etc.
The market building was officially recognized as a property of public interest on February 22, 2006. In 2013, it was listed as a monument of public interest.
The Bolhão Market is located in the parish of Santo Ildefonso, bordered to the north by Rua de Fernandes Tomás, to the south by Rua Formosa, and to the east and west by Rua Alexandre Braga and Rua Sá da Bandeira, respectively. Integrated into downtown Porto, the area of which the market is a prime example is known for its traditional shops dedicated to food products. In addition to the Bolhão Market, fine grocery stores such as “Casa Chineza”, “Casa Transmontana”, and “Pérola do Bolhão” are located nearby.
The origins of the Bolhão Market, one of the city’s most emblematic buildings, date back to 1839, when the Porto City Council decided to build a square on land acquired from the cathedral chapter. This area was an extensive swamp, crossed by a stream that formed a bubble of water, resulting in the market’s name, ‘Bolhão’ (meaning ‘big bubble’). A few years later, this square was improved with the construction of access ramps and wooden stalls in the market’s central corridor. Later, at the beginning of the 20th century, city leaders decided to build a new market outside the town to ensure a food supply that would allow for the city’s expansion. In 1910, a preliminary project by the architect Casimiro Barbosa emerged, envisioning a building with two wings, with Rua de Sá da Bandeira as its central axis. However, this project was abandoned for economic reasons, and the current building was eventually constructed in 1914, based on a design by the architect Correia da Silva. It was a groundbreaking work for its time, due to the use of reinforced concrete in conjunction with metal structures, wooden roofs, and granite stonework. Throughout its history, the market underwent some changes, with the construction of the floor that divides the building in the 1940s, connecting the entrances between Alexandre Braga and Sá da Bandeira streets. Currently, the Bolhão Market building was completely renovated. It was rebuilt over more than 4 years, and on 15 September 15 2022, it was reopened to the public.
