The Market Colonnade

Why go

The Mercado's broad colonnade suggests a large covered public space, though its original function is still debated. Walk the permitted edge and focus on the repeated supports and scale of the room. This makes the Thousand Columns sector more than a backdrop to the Temple of the Warriors.

What to look for

• A broad colonnade defines the building
• The Mercado name does not establish its original function

The full story

The portico once had a Maya-style vault supported across its spans by wooden beams. Along its back wall ran a masonry bench with projecting seat-like elements whose sides were carved. At the center, a broad opening, flanked by warrior depictions, connected the portico with a square courtyard. High outer walls enclosed that court on all four sides. A row of columns parallel to the walls supported a wooden roof structure around its edges, while the lower central space remained open to the sky. This arrangement explains why the building is described as a courtyard gallery. The conventional name Mercado, or market, is misleading if taken literally: the historical function of these galleries is unresolved. Notice the contrast between sheltered edges and open center as a feature of the plan, while recognizing that the original roof and wooden elements are no longer presented as intact.

Useful to know

• View from the public visitor path; do not climb or enter protected structures.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.