On the north side of the Praça do Infante you can see the refurbished and red painted Mercado Ferreira Borges, now an exhibition and cultural centre. Designed in cast iron to replace the old Ribeira market, by the leading architect João Carlos Machado, it was built in the late 19th century and marked an important stage in Porto architecture. The new market was not, however, popular with traders, who were unhappy to leave their old home. Used between 1939 and 1978 as a fruit provision market, it then suffered a period of neglect before restoration for its present use.