Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.3 million (metropolitan region over 3.4 million), Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of 313 square kilometres (121 sq mi) and one of the highest demographic densities in the country (8,001 per km²). To the north of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean; to the south are the m
unicipalities of Pacatuba, Eusébio, Maracanaú and Itaitinga; to the east is the municipality of Aquiraz and the Atlantic Ocean; and to the west is the municipality of Caucaia. Residents of the city are known as Fortalezenses. The city will be one of the host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the host nation. The statue of Iracema refers to the legend of the indigenous woman depicted in a 19th century novel by José de Alencar. Mucuripe Beach holds the Lighthouse Museum. Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture holds the Cearense Culture Memorial, the Contemporary Art Museum and Rubens de Azevedo Planetarium, as well as movies and theaters. Besides this, many old warehouses were refurbished and became bars and restaurants surrounding the central area of town. Weather
The region’s climate is semi-arid. The average annual temperature is around 27 °C – with an average annual high of 38 °C, and a low of 21 °C. The sun is present almost all year long, with rain usually only between March and May
Tourism and recreation
The warm climate, warm ocean waters and the sandy beaches attract tourists. Nightlife is full of festivities with bars, restaurants and shows as the primary attraction. Some of the best bars and clubs are found near Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture. The Praia de Iracema (Iracema's beach), the first urban nuclei of the city and former touristic attraction, is currently beeing renovated. Ponte dos Ingleses (Bridge of the Englishmen) is an ideal location for watching the sunset and spotting dolphins. Fortaleza's urban beaches have warm waters. The scenery is complemented by the jangadas (small rafts) for catching seafood for the Ceará cuisine. The Praia do Futuro (Beach of the Future) is a popular location with many beachside restaurants, built in the local style using carnauba straw and called "Barracas de Praia" (Beach Huts). Scuba diving is possible in the area of Pedra da Risca do Meio State Marine Park, a marine protected area located about 10 nautical miles from the shoreline of Fortaleza. Urban beaches in Fortaleza
Fortaleza has about 25 kilometres (16 mi) of urban beaches. From North to South, the urban beaches of Fortaleza are Iracema, Meireles, Mucuripe and Praia do Futuro. Each beach has its own peculiarities:
Iracema is the bohemian beach, with bars and nightclubs;
Meireles is where locals and tourists go to stroll, and is also the area with the highest number of hotels in Fortaleza;
Mucuripe is the place of jangadas. Still used by fishermen to go into high seas, jangadas can be seen along the way during the afternoon and evenings, and returning from the sea in the morning; part of the catch of the day is sold in an old style fish market. Also, the boat trips leave from this area;
Praia do Futuro is about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long, and is the preferred one for bathing and surfing. Praia do Futuro was made famous by its barracas (rustic restaurants built on the beach sand).
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FICAR
O Gran Marquise (Avenida Beira-Mar, 3980, 4006-5000, www.granmarquise.com.br; diárias desde R$ 329; Cc: A, D, M,V), melhor hotel da cidade, ficana Praia de Mucuripe e tem jardins projetados por Burle Marx. A melhor escolha para famílias fica na Praia do Futuro: o Vila Galé Fortaleza (Avenida Dioguinho, 4189, 3486-4400, www.vilagale.com.br; diárias desde R$ 252; Cc: A, M, V), com piscinas e até megabarraca própria na praia. No final de Iracema, o gigante Marina Park (Avenida Presidente Castelo Branco, 400, 4006-9595, www.marinapark.com.br; diárias desde R$ 287; Cc: A, D, M, V) é postal fortalezense. Os hóspedestêm direito a traslado gratuito à Praia do Futuro e à feira noturna. A conservação é impecável no Sonata de Iracema (Avenida Beira-Mar, 848, 4006-1600, www.sonatadeiracema.com.br; diárias desde R$ 196; Cc: A, D, M, V), que ainda tem a piscina e todosos quartos voltados para o mar. Bom custo/benefício é o Cocal (Rua Barão de Aracati,786, 4006-0066, www.hotelcocal.com.br; diárias desde R$ 160; Cc: A, D, M, V), a quatro quadras da Praia de Iracema. COMER
No ótimo Vojnilô (Rua Frederico Borges, 409, 3267-3081; Cc: A, D, M, V) prove o misto de pescados e a paella. O L’Ô (Avenida Pessoa Anta, 217,3265-2288; Cc: A, D, M, V) transforma produtos regionais em receitas contemporâneas, como demonstra o filé de pescada com purê de banana-da-terra, gengibre e curry. O estrelado Nostradamus (Avenida Beira-Mar, 3980, 3263-7300; Cc: A, D, M, V), dentro do Hotel Gran Marquise, tem menu variado. Prove pratos regionais no Colher de Pau (RuaAna Bilhar, 1178, 3267-6680;Cc: A, D, M, V) ou no enorme bufê do Arre Égua (Rua Delmiro Gouveia, 420, 3267-2325; Cc: A, D, M, V). O Cantinhodo Faustino (Rua Frei Mansueto,1560, 3267-5348; Cc: A, D,M, V) serve uma ótima lagosta flambada com vinho de caju azedo. O português Sobreiro (Rua Manoel Queirós, 511,3234-0062; Cc: A, D, M, V) é uma das grandes novidades dacidade. PASSEAR
Um dos melhores centros culturais do Nordeste, o Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura (Rua Dragão do Mar, 81, Iracema, 3488-8600; grátis) abriga o Memorial da Cultura Cearense, o Museu de Arte Contemporânea, um planetário, salas de cinema e teatro. Na região central, o Theatro José Alencar (Praça José deAlencar, 3101-2583; R$ 4; visitas guiadas a cada hora), fundado em 1910, tem uma bonita estrutura metálica escocesa com vitrais coloridos. Para conhecera orla de outro pontode vista, faça o passeio de barco (saídas às 10h e às 16h) da Associação de Veleiros (Avenida Beira-Mar, 4293, 3263-1085; R$ 35), que dura duas horas e percorre Mucuripe, Meireles e Iracema. COMPRAR
No Ceart (Avenida Santos Dumont, 1589, Aldeota, 3101-1644), o artesanato é de primeira. No Mercado Central (Avenida Alberto Nepomuceno,199, 3454-8586) e na feira noturna (Praia do Meireles;17h/22h) tenha em mente quea regra é pechinchar. O Centro de Turismo (Rua Senador Pompeu, 350, 3101-5507) fica em prédio de 1866 que foi cadeia pública. Nas antigas celas hoje funcionam lojas de artesanato e renda.
