“Iracema, the maiden with lips of honey, whose hair was blacker than a raven and longer than a palm leaf …” This is an excerpt from “Iracema”,one of the most famous works by Brazilian and Cearense writer José de Alencar, that I would like to use to introduce you to Fortaleza, the State Capital of Ceará.
Ceará’s capital city established itself around the Fortress of “Our Lady of the Assumption”, (the Patron Saint of the city), and was founded by the Portuguese. From its origins as a small town, it has over time transformed into a huge metropolis, and the most popular tourist destination in the country.
The coastline of Fortaleza extends for over 21 miles, with a total of 15 beaches. The climate is mild, with an average annual temperature of 26°C (78.8°F). The city itself is a mixture of historic buildings and modern architecture.
If you walk down Avenida Beira Mar in Meireles, the landscape is divided into modern buildings on one side and traditional fishing craft on the other, ready to set sail with the first ray of morning sunshine.
The Cearense capital is a friendly city, which provides its thousands of visitors with a host of tourist attractions: beaches, lagoons, gastronomy and good music are a small sample of what you will experience here.
In the “Land of Enlightenment”, there is plenty of fun to be had. There are a range of options that cater for everyone. It doesn’t matter whether you’re travelling alone, or with friends and family, Fortaleza has something to appeal to everyone.
From its beaches, its climate, it’s gastronomy, rich in seafood, its nightlife every night of the week, and the good humour that only Ceará has together with the appreciation of freedom, Fortaleza really merits the sobriquet “Land of Enlightenment”
Tourists sites at Fortaleza
- Praia de Iracema
The place is an icon of Fortaleza and was named after the “Maiden with the Honey Lips”, from the novel by José de Alencar. It is on Praia de Iracema that you encounter sights such as the Ponte dos Ingleses (The English Pier) and The Aterro, the venue for staging many major events such as the massive New Year’s Eve Concerts.
- Praia do Mucuripe
Mucuripe is a charming beach on the shores of Fortaleza, where the traditions of the local fishing industry are well preserved. It is from here that the many of the boat tours leave. Boats depart daily from the Praia do Mucuripe, and such trips are a great opportunity to see the Cearense shore from a different viewpoint.
- Praia do Futuro
Here you will find an infrastructure of bars and restaurants ready to welcome visitors. The bars and restaurants are mostly are equipped with swimming pools and playgrounds for children.
On the menu you will find typical Cearense dishes, such as baião de dois (rice and beans), shrimp, lobster and not forgetting the city’s favourite, crab, which now has its own special day. The traditional quinta do caranguejo (Crab Thursday) is famous in Fortaleza. A visit to Fortaleza without sampling the crab is really missing out on the best of the local cuisine.
- The Beira Mar Artisans’ Market
Hundreds of stalls are crammed onto the seafront promenade. You will find everything from cashews to delicate bobbin lace. You will also find various local delicacies of like clarified butter, rapadura (sugar loaf), and Brazil nuts. Not to mention the crafts, ranging from works of art to irreverent pieces that demonstrate typical Cearense humour, like shirts, mugs and all kinds of souvenirs.
- Beach Park
The Beach Park is the largest water park in Latin America. Situated on the beach at Porto das Dunas, in the municipality of Aquiraz, 16 miles from Fortaleza, it is one of the most visited tourist attractions. In addition to the water park there are various restaurants and kiosks on the beach.
- Theatre José de Alencar
The centenary theatre is one of the architectural icons of Fortaleza and is in the town centre, in front the square that also bears the name of this Cearense writer.
- Central Market
A visit to the Central Market is a great opportunity to dive headlong into the Cearense culture. The o1riginal building was opened in 1809 and has undergone numerous reforms.
Those who enjoy artisan crafts will be in paradise, with more than 550 shops offering a huge variety of products.
- Fortaleza Cathedral
The French architect George Maunier designed the eclectic style, with dominating Gothic and Romanesque elements, as well as references to the Cologne Cathedral (located in the German city of that name) and the Chartres Cathedral (French Commune). St. Joseph is the Cathedral’s Patron Saint. It is built on the site of the old Diocesan Church.
- Dragão do Mar
The Dragão do Mar (Sea Dragon) is a cultural centre with various permanent exhibitions. Cafes, a theatre, exhibitions and a planetarium are also contained in the complex. During the day you can enjoy cultural activities, and at night the surrounding area is occupied by bars and restaurants which operate from converted warehouses.
Why the name Dragão do Mar (Sea Dragon)?
The complex was named Dragão do Mar in honour of local fisherman Francisco José do Nascimento, o Chico da Matilde, o Dragão do Mar, who led the fishermen’s’ abolitionist movement, which closed the port and thus prevented slave trade with other provinces.
Why Fortaleza is called the “Terra da Luz?”
Thanks to the bravery of so many Cearenses like Dragão do Mar, the State of Ceará in Brazil pioneered the freedom of slaves (1884), four years before May 13, 1888, the day slavery was abolished in the rest of Brazil. This fact earned the state the name Terra da Luz, coined by José do Patrocínio.
This is just a little taste of what awaits you when visiting Fortaleza.
Feel free! Explore Brazil! Fortaleza awaits you!
Live it up. Try it out. Explore Brazil.
