Salamanca Market in Hobart

I am really excited to introduce Georgina from the very popular blog The Amazing Flavours of Brazil, where she cooks Brazilian food in Australia. She is a food fanatic and passionate cook, and shares her home-country recipes along with mouth watering images . I recommend you visit her blog and spend some time looking through her amazing recipes . Just click on the link above, but before you do that, read Georgina's beautiful insight into the Salamanca Market in picturesque Hobart, Tasmania, that she has written for my series Markets of the World.

Hobart is the second oldest city in Australia and is considered one of the most liveable places in the world . It is a city like no other, with a wonderful and diverse landscape that includes the blue waters of the Derwent River and the majestic Mount Wellington that rises to a height of 1271m.

It's Saturday morning in Hobart and winter is just around the corner. Even though the cold winds are starting to make their move it is still a beautiful sunny day. I pick a couple of bags and head to the Salamanca market to buy some fresh sourdough bread, fruits and vegetables, which is also a good excuse for a walk. The mixture of food, lavender, leather and food smells in the air is quite invigorating. Every time I go there it feels like it is the first.

The Salamanca market seems to have a life of its own, and is constantly changing so there is always a surprise for regular visitors like myself. Many musicians who play there are of the highest caliber and the variety is quite impressive. At the market I've already seen folk, jazz and rock bands, flamenco guitarist, solo recorder player, violin, classical singers, to name a few. A lot of the stalls sell Tasmanian-made products and local produce and the market provides a good mix of items that includes clothes, antiques, Tasmanian wine and whiskey, lavender products, honey, home-made jams and preserves, fruit and vegetables (including organic), ceramics, art & craft, souvenirs, chocolates, wood and leather products. There are food vans that sell fast foods and plenty of food stalls selling sandwiches, pies, Asian food and desserts.

The sophisticated art and craft shops located in the Sandstone warehouses and the restaurants and cafes of the Salamanca square area almost become part of the market itself, which is another bonus for the visitors. There is so much to see and enjoy, so pick a day when you have plenty of time to make the most of your experience, I'd say at least 3 hours, which includes time to stop and have lunch or a brunch. If you are driving, make sure you arrive before 10AM otherwise it is very difficult to find parking due to the popularity of the place.

With spectacular views of Mount Wellington and set between the historical Georgian Sandstone warehouses and Hobart's waterfront, Salamanca market is considered one of the best variety markets in Australia. It is almost impossible to believe that 43 years ago this iconic market started with only 12 stalls. Now the market has 300 stalls so the past, as they say, is history. The market is a major touristic attraction of Tasmania and every Saturday it is visited by more than 25,000 people, including locals and tourists.

Hobart Waterfront