Plaza del Mercado de Ponce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plaza del Mercado de Ponce |
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Plaza del Mercado Isabel Segunda in Ponce, Puerto Rico
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, Art Deco |
| Location | Ponce Historic Zone, at the grid formed by Atocha, Estrella, Leon, and Castillo streets. |
| Town or city | Ponce |
| Country | Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°00′53″N 66°36′49″W / 18.01464°N 66.61352°W |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Client | Government of the Municipality of Ponce |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 5,200 square meters (56,000 sq ft) (1877 measurements) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Timoteo Luberza (1863), Pedro Mendez (1941, 1989), Miguel A. Carlos (1992) |
| Engineer | Timoteo Luberza |
The Plaza del Mercado de Ponce (which means Ponce Market Plaza) is a very old and important market building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's also known as Plaza del Mercado Isabel Segunda. This market first opened in 1863. The mayor of Ponce at that time, Don Luis de Quixano, helped open it.
A famous engineer named Timoteo Luberza designed the building. The Plaza del Mercado is located in the Ponce Historic Zone. It takes up a whole city block, surrounded by Atocha, Estrella, Leon, and Castillo streets. Inside, there's space for 65 small shops or "kiosks." When it first opened, people called it "Plaza del Capá."
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History of the Ponce Market
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The Plaza del Mercado was built in 1863. Timoteo Luberza designed it, taking inspiration from Les Halles, a famous market in Paris, France. When it was new, it was the biggest and most modern market in all of Puerto Rico.
Over the years, the building has been changed and updated many times. Major updates happened in 1903, 1941, between 1980 and 1989, and again in 2006.
Changes in 1903
In 1903, the market was made bigger. Architect Manuel V. Domenech designed this expansion in a style called Neoclassical. A new area was also added for storing meat.
By the early 1900s, the market was very busy. It became so crowded that in 1926, the city of Ponce built a second market. This new market was called Mercado de las Carnes (which means "Meat Market"). It helped ease the crowds at the original Plaza del Mercado.
Changes in 1941
The market was expanded again in 1941. This time, the plans were made by Pedro Mendez Mercado, an architect from Ponce. During this update, the building's front was changed. It got a new look with an Art Deco style.
The Juan Bigas Building
For a while, starting in 1981, the shops from the historic Plaza del Mercado moved to a new building. This new building was called the Plaza del Mercado Juan Bigas building. It was built to replace the old market, which was getting very old.
The Juan Bigas building was very large. It even had some old ruins from the Teatro Apolo inside it. After the historic market was fixed up, the shops moved back. The Juan Bigas building was then empty for many years.
In 2010, the government decided to give the Juan Bigas building to the city of Ponce. The city then planned to spend money to fix it up. They wanted to turn it into a center for city services. This new center, called "Ponce Servicios," opened in August 2013. It now holds different city offices.
Updates from 1980 to 1989
In 1980, the historic market building began another big renovation. This work lasted for nine years, finishing in 1989. Architect Pedro Méndez Mercado again helped with the design. The building's Art Deco style was made even stronger.
During this time, the market changed from selling fruits and vegetables to selling handicrafts. In 1984, air conditioning was added to the Plaza del Mercado Isabel II.
Updates in 1992
In 1992, the Plaza del Mercado Isabel II was changed into a building with many uses. It now included parking, other businesses, and offices. This big project was part of the Ponce en Marcha plan for the city.
Architect Miguel A. Carlos designed this renovation. It even won an award in 1993 for its excellent design and construction.
Restoration from 2006 to Today
The building was restored one more time in 2006. This project cost about $4 million. In August 2007, the shopkeepers who had been in the Juan Bigas Building moved back. They returned to the historic Plaza del Mercado Isabel II building. It became a fruit and vegetable market once again.
What Makes It Special
This building is truly special and unique in Puerto Rico. Even though it has been made bigger many times, its original inside structure is still there. Over the years, its outside look has changed, showing different styles like Neoclassical and Art Deco.
The Market Today
Today, the Plaza del Mercado is still a busy market. It is also used for different festivals and other events. However, in 2010, some problems were found with the building's structure and air conditioning.
