Pará’s capital is at the edge of Guajará bay, formed by a suite of islands and the flow of several rivers. Its river port is the most utilized in the northern region of Brazil. Belém was founded in 1616, in the edge of Pará river, with the construction of Forte do Presépio (Presépio Fort), currently Forte Castelo (Castelo Fort). In a strategical place, where Portuguese explorers could control the navigation around the region and prevent attacks from foreign invader. The first nucleus also was a point of departure to the exploitation of Amazon river region.
The city is a synthesis of the paraenses culture and history. Its historical center has historical buildings from XVII to XIX centuries, like Teatro da Paz (Paz Theater), the newly restored Casa das 11 Janelas (11 Janelas House), the Forte do Castelo and the suite of big houses and churches from Cidade Velha (Old City). The Mercado Ver-o-Peso (Ver-o-Peso Market) is an immense street market with countless tents around old constructions, where you can purchase the most typical goods from Amazon river region. The Museu Emílio Goeldi (Emílio Goeldi Museum), well-known research center, shows the fauna and flora from Amazon river region. At Museu de Arte Sacra (Sacred Art Museum), you can know an important collection of very rare pieces.
The paraense cookery is well represented in the restaurants with typical food of the city. There are good places where you can buy craftworks and regional products, as açaí and tropical fruits utilized for preparing juices and ice creams.
Belém can be the point of departure to beautiful maritime beaches in Pará, such as Algodoal and Ajuruteua, as well to Marajó's island. The city offers good hotels and a good air, road and river transportation structure. Every October, it hosts the main religious party of the country, Círio de Nazaré, which attracts more than one million people for faith manifestations on the Pará’s capital streets.
Mercado Ver-o-Peso (Ver-o-Peso Market) An infinite number of products is sold on hundred tents around the market – fishes, regional fruits, vegetables, herbs and medicinal and aromatic roots, seasonings, typical food and drinking and craftwork. That market was founded in the XVII century and continues to be very important to the city supply. On the wharf next to the market, the movement of ships arriving with goods to be sold is intense. The pieces that compose the Mercado do Ferro (Ferro's Market), which is part of the complex, were produced in England, in the XIX century, and installed in Belém.
Belém has old constructions from different phases of its history. One of the most known places is Teatro da Paz, built in 1868 with the neoclassical style. Casa das 11 Janelas, from XVIII century, was restored and its original characteristics were maintained, had being transformed in a cultural center. Forte Castelo, from 1662, is on the place of the first construction on the city and is the place where is the Museu do Presépio (Presépio's Museum). Catedral da Sé (Sé's Cathedral), from 1868, has baroque style frontage. The beautiful Museu de Arte Sacra, with a collection of more than 300 pieces, is in a XVIII century church. Estação das Docas (Docas' Station) is a suite of old restored sheds, with museum, theater, restaurants and craft shops. The Cidade Velha has some big houses covered with Portuguese tiles, churches and chapels. The oldest constructions are dated from the XVII century.
The paraense cookery is highly influenced by Indian food traditions. The duck on tucupi is the most typical dish. Tucupi is a broth obtained from the manioc that must be prepared carefully as it can toxic if not handled correctly. Maniçoba is a kind of baked food whose ingredient is the manioc leaf, called maniva. Tacacá, popular delicacy found in street tents and served in little calabashes, is a soap prepared with manioc gum, manioc juice, jambu (vegetable which causes a slight weaking on the lips) and shrimp.
Belém has several hotels with different patterns. It has tourism agencies, car rental agencies and branches from the main banks on the country.
Belém is 2140 km far from Brasilia, 2970 km far from São Paulo and 3450 km far from Rio de Janeiro. Because of the large distances from the main urban centers, the most usual transport is airplane. The International Airport receives direct flights from the main Brazilian capitals. The city has access to Manaus and to other cities in Amazon river region by a broad river transport system, composed by passenger’s ships and ferryboats. By earth, the main means of access is the Belém-Brasilia road, that crosses the following states: Goiás, Tocantins, Maranhão and Pará.
Tourist information about another destination in Brazil
