Sightseeing in Fortaleza - what to see. Complete travel guide

This is a modern resort town, which has managed to turn into a comfortable recreational area from a small fishing village within just several decades. The coastal part of the city has changed the most during this time. Here have been built new hotels and entertainment venues. Besides beaches that simply dive in the greenery of palm trees, Fortaleza offers to visitors a large selection of tours and entertainments.

Dragao do Mar is the cultural district of the city. You will also find several popular museums here. We simply cannot fail to mention Memorial Museum of Art and Culture that stands out from all cultural facilities of the city. You will also find a theater and a planetarium near it. The fans of active rest will also not get bored here - Dragao do Mar is the location of several large amusement parks, entertainment complexes and playgrounds.

The center of the city is mostly notable for its old buildings. All houses have been restored and today numerous restaurants, shops and bars are located in them. When it comes to describing architectural places of interest, it is worth mentioning Metropolitana Katedrala Cathedral built in 1978. This is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city. The height of the cathedral’s towers estimates 75 meters. It is quite spacious and can accommodate as much as 5000 visitors. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Jose de Alencar Theater is one of the most popular facilities of this place. The theater is surrounded by a beautiful park. You visit to Museum of Ceara will be surely an unforgettable one as here you will find over 7000 ancient artifacts. Ten rooms of the museum represent several collections of furniture, clothing, jewelry and many other antiques. Another historical monument of the city is José de Alencar House, which once has belonged to the famous writer. The house keeps the original interior and furnishings, as well as a collection of manuscripts and a large library.

An interesting cultural center Mercado dos Pinos operates on the island. Few times a week it hosts leisure activities and exhibitions devoted to various fields of modern art. A beautiful historic building became the location of the cultural center. Previously, it housed a market and managed to keep the unique finishing of past years. Rather unusual events are sometimes held in the cultural center, for example, exhibitions of sculptures made of various household wastes.

An old lighthouse, called Mucuripe, has survived on the island. It was built in 1827. At the end of the 19th century, the lighthouse was badly damaged by fire. It was successfully reconstructed and served another 85 years. They stopped using it directly in 1957. Nowadays, the Museum of Lighthouses is housed inside. The exhibits include interesting historical documents, photographs, and drawings.

Adahil Barreto Park is very popular with lovers of outdoor activities. It is very large and perfectly-equipped for rest. Huge trees and exotic plants hide convenient paths for hiking and cycling. The park has various sports fields and special playgrounds for children. A small open-air theater is also found here. Lovers of nature come here to have a good look at marvelous mangroves.

There are several beautiful churches on the island. Nossa Senhora de Nazare Church stands out among them. It was built in the early 14th century in the place of the former ruined chapel. During its existence, the church was rebuilt three times. Despite numerous renovations, it maintained some elements of the original decoration. Today, visitors can see old statues depicting biblical scenes and admire golden ancient altar.

Trips to the Fernando de Noronha archipelago are popular with lovers of nature. The archipelago is located in the neighborhood. Here, you can walk in untouched tropical woods, admire waterfalls and rivers hidden in dense thickets, and have a rest on wild beaches with white sand.