Curitiba’s Famous Street Fair
The Largo da Ordem Street Market is a real tradition in Curitiba. Every Sunday, from 9am to 2pm, the market boasts a thriving commerce with 3,000 exhibitors, selling handicrafts, books, records, antiquities, furniture, and a gastronomic market with dishes and snacks from various parts of the world, from Bahia’s acarajé to pirogue, a Polish dish made of a type of pasta with various different fillings and sauces, freshly prepared and served.
On average 18,000 people visit each Sunday, amongst them foreigners, artists, students, and many others who represent the diversity of the population that circulates in Curitiba’s streets. The market was founded in 1971 by the Cultural Foundation of Curitiba, during the former Mayor Jaime Lerner’s first term of office, and was dreamt up through the “Revitalisation of Curitiba’s Historical Centre Project”.
The roots of the Largo’s market are embedded in bartering, the practice of exchange and sale of objects, or provisions. In 1960 market commerce took root in Osorio Square, ten years later a few groups of artists started to divulge the culture sold therein. In 1972 the market set up home in Zacarias Square, at that time it was known as the Flea Market, and had a mere 57 exhibitors.
Today the Largo da Ordem Street Market, located in the Parana capital’s historical centre, extends the equivalent of 7 blocks. The stallholders have taken over Garibaldi Square, Claudino dos Santos Street; where you can find the Presbyterian church, Kellers Street; location of the Muslim Mosque, Barão do Cerro Azul Street, and even Nestor de Castro Street, among others.
For 30 years Dorota Scheibe has been selling knitwear, decorated tea-towels, and colourful embroidered aprons. She started to participate in the market when it was still held in Zacarias Square. According to her, all the products sold in the market are inspected by City Hall, to ensure that they are handicrafts, and also of good quality.
Cultural attractions are also present in the Market, such as the group “Choro e Seresta” which has been an integral part of the cultural scene since 1973. There is also Salvador Barbeta, who is a caricature artist, and works in the market drawing those whom desire an artistic and humorous portrait of themselves. And we mustn’t forget the human statues that portray historical personalities and put smiles on the faces of those perusing the stalls; these artistes are a fundamental part of the Market, for they participate in the true regional art performed in the Largo da Ordem.
Besides the music, culture, portraits of Curitiban tradition, and a great deal of art, various voluntary programmes often take place in parallel to the bustling commerce, such as campaigns on drug awareness, disease prevention and improving quality of life for the elderly. Get up a little earlier on Sunday and take a turn around the Largo da Ordem Street Market in Curitiba; it’s really worthwhile. It will expand your horizons, enchant you with the artisans’ creativity and you will get to know the Curitiban way of being very pleasant and friendly.
