Fortaleza

Fortaleza (Portuguese for fortress, pron. IPA ) is the state capital of Ceará, located in northeastern Brazil. With a population of more than 2 million, it is considered the second most important city in the region in economic terms, after Salvador in Bahia. Fortaleza has an area of 336 sq km. To the north of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean; to the south, the cities of Pacatuba, Eusébio, Maracanaú and Itaitinga; to the east is the county of Aquiraz and the Atlantic Ocean; and to west is the city of Caucaia.

History

Fortaleza's history began February 2, 1500 when Spaniard Vicente Pinzón landed in Mucuripe's cove and named the new land Santa Maria de la Consolación, but because of the Treaty of Tordesillas, the discovery was never officially sanctioned. The real colonization started when the Dutch constructed Fort Schoonenborch in 1649. Later, the Portuguese expelled the Dutch and renamed it Forte de Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Around the fort, which even today is perfectly preserved, a small village grew to become the fifth largest city in Brazil. In 2004, Luizianne Lins was surprisingly elected as mayor.

Tourism

Three thousand hours of sunlight per year and the constant ocean breeze make Fortaleza an appealing tourist attraction. The nightlife is full of festivities, with bars, restaurants, and shows. The city is known for having the "wildest Monday nights in the world". The Praia de Iracema (Iracema's beach), one of the first urban nuclei of the city, holds many bars and restaurants. There, the Ponte dos Ingleses (Bridge of the English) - the old docks - is located and used to watch the sunset and spot dolphins.

Warm waters bathe Fortaleza's urbanized beaches, which offer every comfort to the tourist. The scenery is complemented by the jangadas (small and rustic rafts used by many of Ceará's fishermen). From the jangadas come the sea's fruits, responsible for the best Ceará cuisine. The Praia do Futuro (Beach of the Future) is the meeting place for the bathers, concentrating a large number of typical beachside restaurants, with carnauba straw used in its construction. The local population calls them "Barracas de Praia." Thursday nights, the beach becomes the biggest sensation in the capital's nightlife, with live music, forró and a lot of crab to eat.

A few kilometers away from the city are some well-known beaches as Prainha, Iguape and Porto das Dunas. In the latter there are two large water parks.

Cultural features

Fortaleza has a strong and traditional cultural life. Since the end of XIX Century, the city has vary cultural institutions. The Instituto do Ceará (Ceará Institute) was estabilished in 1887, and it's the oldest institution. Their reseach have a historic, geographic and antropologic type. The Academia Cearense de Letras (Cearense Academy of Letters) was the first institution of the sort in the country, being established in August 15 of 1894. In 1892 Fortaleza was place of a cultural movement of literary expression called "Spiritual Bakery" and it praised literary style used on Modern Art Week of 1922. There are many others cultural centers as the Banco do Nordeste Cultural Center and the most important, Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture that is placed on the quarter of Praia de Iracema, an important cultural place of Fortaleza. The folklore of Fortaleza is rich and diversificated. Have your roots on miscigenation of beliefs of white, black and indian races. Some of the cultural manifestations are:

Bumba-meu-boi or Boi-Ceará: are songs and dances of religious cult to the ox, and have Portuguese roots.
Dança do coco: originated by the black people. On the beach it is just for men and in the hinterland it is danced in pairs.
Torém: Indian dance originated by the tremembés indians.
Maracatu: Dance and music. The Fortaleza maractu is the Baque Virado or Nação lines and is celebrated on the carnivals.
Violeiros, cantadores and emboladores: musical manifestation expressing social critical. Has typical northeast origins.

Landmarks

Fortaleza is the home of numerous landmarks and is a popular tourist destination. Landmarks include:

Sports

Fortaleza provides visitors and residents with various sport activities. There are several soccer clubs based in Fortaleza such as Fortaleza EC, Ferroviário AC and Ceará SC.

With strong winds the Praia do Futuro is an excellent place for nautical sports. Fortaleza hosts world competitions of surfing,windsurfing and kitesurfing.

External links

Fortaleza City Hall Website (in Portuguese)
Fortaleza Guide
Fortaleza

Fortaleza | Cities in Ceará | Ceará state