FORTALEZA:

Capital of the state of Ceará, has today a population that already surpasses the
2 millions of inhabitants in around 340 Km2 of urban area.
The city seduces tourists of everywhere with its rare beauty.It is 25 Km of beautiful beaches,
countless options of leisure and entertainment, tasty culinary, rich workmanship, the hospitality
of its people, a night agitated and exciting.
The city counts today with a fully capable infrastructure of tourism of receive very well the visitors.
It is the Land from the Light, is the Capital of the Sun! It is sun the entire year.
The climate is practically always the even, of eternal summer with the temperature
varying between 25°C to 36°C.

Tours:

Beira Mar Avenue:
Beira Mar Avenue, the picture postcard of Fortaleza, is the most visited tourist spot in the city. Its unmistakable beauty, proportioned by the seafront and the magnificent recreational setting, offers moments of pure pleasure strolling along the esplanade, trying out the restaurants with their gastronomic delights or shopping for handcrafts. It is a great center for cultural, artistic and sporting events.

Tourist Center:
Built in 1850, it acted as the Fortaleza Prison until mid 1866. Nowadays it is an important center for the promotion of northeastern culture. It houses 104 shops, selling the most varied craft products. In addition the Tourist Center is also the headquarters of the Museum of Art and Popular Culture and the Mineralogy Museum. It is located on Senador Pompeu Street, 350 - Downtown.

José de Alencar House:
The small house where the famous novelist from Ceará was born. The original three-roomed structure is still preserved. In the locality are an art collection, the ruins of the first steam powered mill in Ceará, the Arthur Ramos Museum, a library and a restaurant serving local cuisine. It is a part of the National Heritage.

The Metropolitan Cathedral:
A church of rare architectural beauty, it was planned by the Frenchman Jorge Henn Maunier. The construction of the Cathedral faced four difficult decades before it was inaugurated in 1978. The result is a grandiose temple in the gothic style, with beautiful stained glass windows and a 75m tower. It holds 5000 people and its patron saint is St. Joseph, also the patron of the State of Ceará. It is situated at the Sé Plaza, Alberto Nepomuceno Avenue (no number) - Downtown.

The Railway Station:
Built at the end of the 19th Century (1872-1880) it is endowed with well-defined classical features. Workers made unemployed by the drought that affected Ceará from 1877 to 1879 provided most of the labor for its construction. The railways that were being built throughout Latin America symbolized the penetration of capitalism. For this reason the erection of the Eng. João Felipe Railway Station was initiated. The State Government has listed it as a Historical Monument. It is located on Castro Carreira Plaza - Downtown.

Iracema Statue:
A monument to the beautiful native Indian heroine of the novel "Iracema" by the immortal Ceará-born José de Alencar. It depicts Iracema arrow in hand, aimed at the Portuguese warrior before her and holding her son Moacir, symbol of the miscegenation of the Indians and the white man. The statue was erected on Mucuripe Beach, where Iracema waited on the wharf for the return of her lover.

Mucuripe Lighthouse:
Slaves built the old Mucuripe Lighthouse in the baroque style, between 1840 and 1845. Constructed of masonry, timber and iron, it was deactivated in 1957 and restored in 1981 and 1982 to shelter the Jangadeiro Museum. It currently holds the Lighthouse Museum. From the top, there is a dazzling view of the sea and sand dunes. The building has been listed by the National Historical Heritage. It is located on Vicente de Castro Avenue (no number) - Cais do Porto.

The Church of Our Lady of The Rosary:
Originally, this was a lath-and-plaster chapel, built by African slaves in 1730, afterwards, in 1755, it was rebuilt in stone and whitewash. The oldest church in Fortaleza, it acted as the mother church for the city between 1821 to 1854. It is protected by a State Listing. It is situated on Rosário Street, in front of the Leões Plaza.

Our Lady of Assumption Fort:
Initially called 'Schoonenborch", the fort was built by the Dutchman Matias Beck in 1549. Under the possession of the Portuguese in 1654, the fort came to be named "Our Lady of Assumption Fort". It underwent reforms projected by the architect Silva Paulet from São Paulo, being rebuilt in masonry in 1817, the year of the Ecuador Confederation. Currently it is the headquarters of the Tenth Military Region. The city of Fortaleza is named after this fort.

Castelo Branco Mausoleum:
The old headquarters of the State Government, today it is the resting-place of the Ceará-born Castelo Branco, ex-President of Brazil. It consists of a block of prismatic, longelinear concrete with a heady sway of 30m, at the extreme end of which are found the mortal remains of the ex-President and his wife M. Argentina, together with some belongings, documents and honors. It is located on the Barão de Studart Avenue, 410 - Aldeota.

Passeio Público :
This plaza dates back to the 19th Century. It is considered to be one of Fortaleza's first plazas. Founded on the 3rd April 1879, its style is predominantly neoclassical, evidenced mainly by the statue which graces it. Listed by the National Historical Heritage, it is also known as Martyrs Plaza, in honor of the heroes of the Ecuador Confederation who were executed there in 1825. It is located on Dr. João Moreira Street - Downtown.

Ferreira Plaza:
This is the vital center of the city. It is surrounded by innumerous buildings of historical importance that share the space with various commercial establishments. With its cafés, it used to be the city's principal meeting place, having been also the stage for the "Spiritual Bakery" literary movement in 1892. A recent reform with a new clock column and new gardens, redeems its original architecture. It is located between the streets Major Facundo and Floriano Peixoto.

English Pier:
Its construction started on 18th December 1902 and concluded on 26th April 1906. It operated as a point for boarding and landing passengers and goods until the mid 1940s. it has currently been adapted for public access, with a small art gallery and a marine observatory. It is a meeting point for those who appreciate the sea and beautiful sunsets. It is on Iracema Beach at the end of the esplanade.

Municipal Palace:
This was built by the Portuguese Mendes Guimarães family at the beginning of the 19th Century. From 1973, the João Brigido Palace began to function as the Municipal Palace, in 1979 there was a reurbanization of the D. Delegado woodland and drainage of the Pajeú stream. In 1989, the mayor Ciro Gomes restored the palace, preserving the architecture and rescuing the original landscaping, with the collaboration of the landscape architect Burle Max. Currently, the Palace holds the Welfare Municipal Department e and the IPLAM It is situated on São José Street 01, behind the Metropolitan Cathedral - Downtown.

Rectory of the Federal University of Ceará:
Old mansion-house of the Gentil family, this is a building in the classical style surrounded by vast gardens. Despite being enlarged for the establishment of the rectory, the architectural features were preserved. It is located on the Universidade Avenue, 2853 - Benfica .

José Alencar Theatre:
The theatre is named in honor of the celebrated Ceará-born novelist. Built in 1910, its architecture shows clear eclectic traces, combining especially neoclassicism and art-noveau. The facade is in the Corinthian style and the stairs are of wrought iron imported from Scotland. Each box has the name of a work by José de Alencar. The theatre was restored in 1988 and is operates at full capacity. The building has been listed by the National Historical Heritage. It is located Downtown, in a plaza of the same name.

The Cocó Ecological Park:
This is considered to be the largest urban park in South America. It has an extension of 25 km consisting of green areas, woodlands, a huge mangrove swamp with its characteristic flora and fauna, snack bars, sports pitches and an amphitheater where large events and concerts are carried out. It is situated between Engenheiro Santana Jr. Avenue and Andrade Furtado Street.

Beach Park: The complex Beach Park is composed of complete structure of beach with aquatic sports, snack bars, restaurants and shops. Next to the complex, is located the Acqua Park - aquatic park, to brink sea, with water slides, rivers for tube floating, and swimming pools.

Barra do Ceará Beach:
The beauty of the Barra do Ceará beach derives from the Ceará river meeting the sea at the initial point of colonization of the state, where the Portuguese Martim Soares Moreno founded St. Sebastian Fort. The sand dunes add spice to one of the most beautiful views: the sunset. This is a leisure nucleus for the population of the city outskirts. A highlight is the crossing by canoe and barges. It is 8 km from Downtown.

Formosa Beach:
The closest beach to the city center. The beautiful views include the Our Lady of Assumption Fort, birthplace of the capital of Ceará, today the headquarters of the Tenth Military Region. It is 3 km from Downtown (Unsuitable for bathing).

Iracema Beach:
At the historical beach of Iracema, with its narrow streets with their indigenous names, by day and night bohemians, intellectuals, artists, residents and tourists coexist. Recently urbanized, Iracema Beach has expanded its public and now houses an infinity of bars, restaurants, dance houses and a breakwater that attracts many visitors. The local architecture is preserved by the Municipal Historical Heritage. The great cultural center the Estoril Bar can be found here, along with the English Pier. It is 2 km from Downtown.

Meireles Beach:
Each section of Meireles Beach carries the name of one of the Beira Mar Avenue's clubs: the Ideal Club, the Diarios Club, the AABB and the Náutico. This is an urbanized area, appropriate for leisure pursuits, with wide esplanades, bars, kiosks, hotels and snack bars. In the evening, on Náutico Beach, there is an outdoor market offering visitors a wide range of the state's craft produce. It is 4 km from Downtown.

Mucuripe Beach:
This beach is characterized by the innumerous colored-sailed rafts that leave and return daily from the sea, creating a beautiful spectacle. Here there is a fish market, where a variety of fish and seafood are sold. There is an imposing view of Mucuripe Bay. It is 5 km from Downtown.

Futuro Beach:
This is a 5 km long stretch of beach attracts the largest concentration of bathers, due to its limpid waters and constant waves. In the evenings, forró, sereste and crabs are the latest craze of natives and tourists alike, who discover a new attraction: the beach bars of Futuro Beach, famous for the local cuisine and the artistic shows that they offer. It is located 9 km from Downtown.

Cumbuco Beach:
One of the most restless beaches of Ceará, famous because of the house of many artists, many dunes, lakes and lots of comfort, with a complete touristic structure. You can make a sightseeing tour by buggy through the dunes, which with their curves, falls and rises, make chilling the most daring visitors.

Lagoinha:
Considered one of the most beautiful beaches of Ceará, with many coconut trees and dunes. Great place for the sea bath.

Morro Branco e Fontes Beach:
The Beach of Morro Branco, besides the natural wonders, is famous for its artisans, who make the famous colored sand bottles. At the Beach das Fontes, all the comfort of the touristic complex of the Parque Aquático das Fontes.

Caponga e Iguape:
Besides enjoying the wonders of the Iguape and Caponga beaches, you can make an eco-tour, by "Pau de Arara" (pick-up trucks) through the scrubland, everglades and stream, reaching a small lake to enjoy a revitalizing bath on its sulfured water.

Canoa Quebrada:
It is located 156 km from Fortaleza. Coconut trees, dunes and red cliff compose the scenario of this wonderful beach. Over the cliff there are two villages, Esteves, where the fisherman live and Canoa Quebrada, making it a famous touristy destiny. Canoa is famous for offering outstanding auroras and sunsets. Its cliff are natural eyesight for all the wonders and simplicity of this beach that nowadays attracts tourists all around the world.