Markets

– Mercado de São João (St John's Market). It opened on 24 June 1823 and was to have been called the Mercado Constitucional de São João (Constitutional Market of St John). It never received that name, because news reached Madeira that the absolutist regime had been restored following the revolution of 27 May of the same year. It stood on the site now occupied by the ‘Dr. Manuel de Arriaga’ theatre, and was built with money lent by João de Carvalhal Esmeraldo, president of the first Constitutional Council.

In our own day it was known as the ‘Feira Velha’ (Old Fair), and it was demolished in 1883, when the Municipality decided to build the said theatre. In 1878 the Funchal Circus (Circo Funchalense) was built within the market grounds, and several companies performed there.

The market known as São João was at one point to have been built between Rua do Hospital Velho and Rua Nova de Santa Maria (‘new street of St Mary’), on a square (campo) that existed there. The site was inspected by the Council and by the lieutenant-colonel of engineers Feliciano António de Matos on 15 May 1821.

The land on which the market was built belonged to the Franciscan friars and was leased to the Council on 24 December 1822.

It seems that the São João market was closed, or ceased to serve the public, for some time, for we have read somewhere that it was reopened on 4 April 1846.