Paper short abstract:

The market, singular and plural, has different meanings: - from the buildings and sites resulting from the materialization of a mixed market economy to the economical system, in this moment of crisis, for some it´s the end, for others is the opportunity to be re visioned.

Paper long abstract:

From the political system of the Athens Ágora to the current neoliberal shopping malls the relationship between what is planned and what is not, raise the issue.

The hygienist city contributed significantly to the affirmation of the markets as urban infrastructure. The confrontation and resistance of this model with the rational city and the neoliberal city will be the focus.

In the traditional markets and fairs, the value of the senses, the mixture of smells, sounds, richness, concentration and variety of products make them wanted by the communities and those who visit want to know the culture and local identity. The urban heritage, which the market is an integral part is not recognized as a resource, but more as a backdrop. 
As a resource, memory and patrimony "are built from the inside out, creating opportunities for well-being of the community residents who live in the city where the citizen is the protagonist - which singled out, that we add value and opportunity the future and then to merge other values.

In this sense emerges also the questions of use and right. But these spaces are controlled and in what way are available. Is there room for spontaneity. Do they respect the identity and cultural values.

Thereby I propose a reflection through this morpho-typology, past and present, through the analysis and comparisons of portuguese study-cases referring them to the most paradigmatic international context.