Official Language:
Portugese
|
Currency:
Brazilian Real
|
Population:
Approximately 2 million people call Belem home.
|
Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Belem Brazil: Belém is a rainy city and hot. Humidity is very high. The climate is equatorial which means little variance from day to day. The wettest months are between January to May, but whenever you travel, be prepared for daily rain and high temperatures.
|
|
|
|
Belém, in Pará state, is one of Brazil's busiest ports - and it's about 60 miles upriver from the Atlantic ocean! The river is the Pará, part of the greater Amazon river system, separated from the larger part of the Amazon delta by Ilha de Marajó or Island of Marajó. Belém is built on a number of small islands intersected by channels and other rivers. See the map.
Founded in 1616, Belém was the first European colony on the Amazon but didn't become part of the Brazilian nation until 1775. As the gateway to the Amazon, the port and city grew tremendously in size and importance during the nineteenth century rubber boom, and is now a large city with millions of inhabitants. The newer part of the city has modern buildings and skyscrapers. The colonial portion retains the charm of tree filled squares, churches and traditional blue tiles. On the outskirts of the city, the river supports a group of people called cablocas, who live their lives almost untouched by the busy activities of the city.
Belém is situated some 90 miles from the open sea and slightly south of the equator. It is the great port of the Amazon. Founded by the Portuguese in 1616 as the City of Our Lady of Bethlehem (Belém), its original purpose was to protect the mouth of the river and establish Portugal’s claim to the region. However, Belém soon became an Indian slaving port and a source for cacao and spices from the Amazon. Due to the slave exportation, the local population went into a disastrous decline and by the mid-18th century a royal decree was issued in Portugal to encourage and even reward every white man who married an Indian woman.
The city, however, did not revive until the rubber boom at the end of the 19th century. Belém became a very rich town from where close to half of all Brazil’s rubber was exported. Thousands of poor people moved into the city from the northeast, bringing with them new cultural contributions such as music and dance, plus the Afro-Brazilian religions of candomblé and macumba. When the rubber boom ended, Belém again suffered a decline and tried for new resources based on lumber and Brazil nuts. During World War II, an important strategic base for the American fleet was established here.
Today’s visitors enjoy an atmosphere which is very welcoming and fun loving. It has an intriguing and exotic ambiance as well as an unexpected modern skyline. The city offers cultural events in the splendid Teatro da Paz, and the excellent Goeldi Museum and Zoological Gardens. There are good restaurants to try some local cuisine, and shops and markets offer a wide variety of Amazonian arts and crafts.
|
|
Attractions |
 |
 |
Basílica de Nazaré:
The Basílica was buld in 1852 in the place where the image of Our Lady of Nazaré was found. Its facade reminds the Larger Basilica of São Paulo, in Rome and it possesses a panel with the virgin, the river Amazonas and the representatives of the devote people, besides the columns in marble and of brilliant mosaics.
Bosque Rodriguez Alves:
Botanical park created in 1883, this wooded 170,000 square Meters Park is an ecological reserve as well as a leisure area for the local population. The 2.500 forest species of the park were not planted, but are natural and were simply enclosed to provide a reminder of the wild Amazon forest. Open: 8:00am - 5:00pm. Av. Almirante Barroso 2453, Bairro do Marco
Excursions from Belém:
Icoaracy Village, about 25 km from the city, is well-known as the ceramics center of northern Brazil. Marajoara and Tapajonic ceramics are created here. Ilha de Marajo is an ecological preserve with unspoiled beaches, many varieties of flora and fauna, and lots of wildlife, including water buffalo.
Mosqueiro Island, 80 km from Belém, is connected to the mainland by Sebastião de Oliveira Bridge. The island's architecture reflects the many influences in of Belém and the area. The island is popular for beautiful river beaches, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Cidade Velha:
It is an older part of the city with many fine mansions built in the French style popular during the rubber boom. In the Praça do Relógio, named for the replica of London's Big Ben, are the Palácio Antõnio Lemos with the Museo da Cidade. Also called the Blue Palace for the blue tiles, it's a Brazilian imperial style building with huge rooms and imported furnishings. The Palácio Lauro Sodré was built in the 1770s for Portuguese crown officials and contains period paintings, a chapel, stables and a dungeon.
Igreja da Sé:
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Belém or "Igreja da Sé" constructed in 1748, in Baroque and neoclassical style, is considered one of the most beautiful churches of Brazil in architecture and sacred arts. Inside, it shelters images in exquisite frescos, oil paintings and panels. The Cathedral is the departure point of the "Círio de Nazaré", the largest religious procession in Brazil, dedicated to Our Lady of Nazareth, the patron saint of the State of Pará, that happens in Belém on every second Sunday of October, for over 200 years. It opens from Tuesday to Friday 8am-12pm and 2pm-6pm. From 6pm to 8pm on Saturdays and from 4pm to 9pm on Sundays. Located Praça Frei Caetano Brandão, Bairro da Cidade Velha
Lauro Sodre Palace:
Located on Praça Dom Pedro, a beautiful 18th-century Italianate building which contains Brazil’s largest framed painting, The Conquest of Amazonia.
Museu Emílio Goeldi:
Founded in 1866, it is a botanical, zoological and anthropological park. It has more than 2,000 species of plants and trees, numerous Amazon animal and birds and an aquarium with rare aquatic species. Goeldi Museum offers a world-famous ethnological and zoological collections on the Amazon. The museum has a zoological-botanical garden, sheltering manatees, alligators, snakes, monkeys, birds and other Amazonian animals, an aquarium and the ethnology museum itself. Don't miss the collection of Marajoara ceramics, Indian artifacts, stuffed birds and old photos. With considerable archeological, anthropological, botanical and zoological material, the Museum is international renowned and the oldest and most important research institution in the Amazon. Opens from Tuesday to Thursday: from 8am to 12pm and 2 pm to 5pm, Fridays from 8am to 12 pm, and weekends from 9am to 5 pm. Adress: Av Magalhães Barata 376.
The old docks As Docas have been renovated and now house restaurants and shops. The newly renovated docks of Belém near the Mercado Ver o peso claim the finest restaurants in town, as well as numerous food stands serving local seafood. From the waterfront, stroll to the Praça de Republica to see the 1874 Teatro da Paz theater that has seen many famous artists.
Teatro da Paz:
This theater considered one of the most beautiful of Brazil, it was built by the private initiative in the golden times of the rubber, in 1878.All built in neoclassical style, with Greek columns in the facade, the theater possesses lobby and interior of the noble living room with paintings of thematic amazon painted by the artist plastic Aramando Balloni.Open: 9:00am- 6:00pm, Address: Rua da Paz, s/nº, Phone: 01155-(91) 224-7355
Shopping:
Shopping for crafts (Marajó Indian pottery and Amazonia souvenir items) as well as local perfumes are populare items. Jewelry made from local quartz and other crystals are also available. The major shopping areas are along Avenida Presidente Vargas as well as the stalls at Ver-o-Peso Market.>
Ver o Peso:
Meaning "see the weight", this is one of the most varied and colorful markets in South America. located on the river front, its the City's cultural and tourist landmark, one of the best known symbols of the State of Pará and of the Amazon Region, a place where one can find a sampling of the great variety of regional products associated with local custom and culture. The market offers an incredible variety of fish, tropical fruits and vegetables, ornamental plants, handicrafts, medicinal herbs used to prepare teas, therapeutic baths and fumigation and other products as well as charms for the local African-derived religion, umbanda. Open: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm. To time your visit for a special event, go to Belém for the Círio de Nazaré on the second Sunday in October. Hymns, bells and fireworks mark the festival to the Virgin of Nazareth, Brazil's largest religious festival. Nightlife in balem draws people for music and dancing. Samba shows, traditional music and dance, carimbó and popular music and dance at boates are popular.
|
|
More Information |
|
|
|
|
|
