Manaus, Amazonas

Manaus Part 2

Situated on the northern bank of the Rio Negro are both the Mercado Municipal (the municipal market) and the Port of Manaus.

Because Manaus is a major destination for boats on the Amazon River, the port is the destination of cruise ships, ocean liners tankers, and freighers from around the world. All of these ocean vessels make the five day trip from Belem on the Atlantic coast.

Also present in the port are smaller ships and boats that carry freight and passengers to the cities and towns along the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers, as well as their many tributaries.

Boats make the trip to Porto Velho, Rondonia two-three times per week. Tabatinga on the border with Colombia can also be reached by boat from Manaus.

Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, more commonly referred to as Mercado Municipal, is the central marketplace of Manaus located between Rua dos Barés and Avenida Lourenço da Silva Braga, on the shore of the Negro River.

A project based on the works of Gustave Eiffel , the Mercado was built in art nouveau style between the end of the 19th century (1883) and the beginning of the 20th Century (1906). Mercado Adolpho Lisboa is a loose copy, of the old, albeit famous, market of Paris – Les Halles .

The metallic structures for the Mercado were built in Paris and sent to Manaus by ship.
Now Mercado Adolpho Lisboa is the greatest souvenir-shopping market in Manaus, in addition to being a source of fruits, fish, spices, produce, rice, as well as traditional native medications and other products.

More on Manaus in the next edition.