Fortaleza

INTRO
Fortaleza is the capital and the largest city of the Brazilian state of Ceara. This large and sprawling city is the social, economic and industrial core of the state, with one of the most populous metropolitan areas in Brazil. The metropolitan beaches in Fortaleza are not as attractive as most visitors would expect, however that is counterpoised by the vibrant nightlife, stunning architecture and numerous entertainment and dining establishments. Lots of tourists use Fortaleza as a jumping-off point for some idyllic towns and pristine beaches along the coast of Ceara.

City Profile
City: Fortaleza
Country: Brazil
Area: 313.8 km2
Population: 2, 420, 000
Districts: 4
Governor: Luizianne Lins
Language: Portuguese

LOCATION
Fortaleza encompasses an area of 318.8km2, and the average elevation in the city is 21 m above sea level. To the west Fortaleza borders with the city of Caucaia, to the east - with the county of Aquiraz and the Atlantic Ocean. South of Fortaleza are the cities of Eusebio, Itaitinga, Maracanau and Pacatuba, to the north of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean.

TIME TO VISIT
When planning a trip to Fortaleza, weather should not be a major concern for you. It is nice and warm year-round, even the wet season (February to June) is quite mild and hardly ever affects the pleasant temperatures. It has been claimed that Fortaleza is sunny in almost 350 days of the year. There are several cultural events in Fortaleza that are worth planning a visit for. The Lemanja festival, which celebrates the goddess of the sea, is held every August 15 at Praia do Futuro. During the second half of July is the Ragata de Jangadas - a sailing regatta with traditional jangadas. It takes place between Praia Mucuripe and Praia do Meireles. Fortaleza's folklore week, called Semana do Folclore, is held from the 22nd till the 29th of August each year.

POPULATION
The permanent residents of Fortaleza city are around 2, 420, 000, and another 1, 000, 000 are residing in Fortaleza Metropolitan Area. The racial makeup of the city is pretty diverse - 34% of the population are white people, 63% are Prado people, 2,5% are black, and only 0,5% - Asian or Amerindian. Fortaleza is the 4th most populous city in Brazil - behind Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.

DISTRICTS

Beira Mar- the seaside area of Fortaleza. The last section of the area, called Avenida Beira Mar, is by far the most attractive zone of the whole city. Covering around 3 km of the beach strip, it houses lots of cafes, diners, restaurants, bars, shops and street stalls. A very important feature of Avenida Beira Maris the presence of lots of police stands and patrols which make the area a pretty safe place to hang out any time of the day.
Praca do Fereira - located in the centre of Fortaleza, this is the city's major square. However not that big of a tourist attraction, the square is a perfect place to spend a few hours relaxing, contemplating and enjoying the vibrant street life of Fortaleza. Praca do Fereira has lots of stores, restaurants and a movie theatre.
Parque Ecologico do Coco - the largest park in Fortaleza. Located close to Iguatemi Mall, it features lush greenery, lots of benches and many entertainment establishments as well as food stalls and cafes. The park is a nice place to spend a few hours in, especially if you brought your kids.
Praia de Iracema - (Iracema's beach) - one of the first urban cores of Fortaleza. It is one of the focal points of the nightlife in the city - with lots of clubs, bars and discos. The area includes the pier known as the Ponte dos Ingleses - Bridge of the Englishmen. Both tourists and locals use it to spot dolphins and watch the sunset.

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Teatro Jose de Alencar - an impressive building dating from 1910. It features classical art Nouveau architecture and was constructed with cast-iron sections imported from Scotland. The theatre is now used as a venue for cultural events and is worth paying a visit especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Praia do Futuro - probably Fortaleza's best beach. It is a pristine stretch of white sand almost 5 km long. It is situated quite far away from most of the major hotels. There are lots of barracas (kiosks) serving crab and beer.
Centro Dragao do Mar de Arte e Cultura - a cultural centre featuring a planetarium, theatres, art galleries and cinemas. This modern complex blends perfectly with the old buildings that surround it. Many of them have been recently restored and now house restaurants, bars and shops. A good place to visit, especially on weekends. http://www.dragaodomar.org.br/index.php
Museu do Ceara - a museum that houses some very good exhibits of Uruguay's history and anthropology. http://www.secult.ce.gov.br/MUSCE/MUSCE.asp

AIRPORT

Pinto Martins Airport - Fortaleza's major air transportation hub. This modern facility was opened in 1998. There are daily flights to almost anywhere in Brazil as well as to other capitals of South America, mostly via Sao Paulo. There is an urban bus (404 Aeroporto/Benfica) running frequently between the centre of Fortaleza and Pinto Martins Airport. There are two types of taxis - Airport taxis, which are more expensive, and regular cabs, which offer the same comfort but at lower prices - a ride to the centre should cost about R$20-25. http://www.visitfortaleza.com/transportation/fortaleza-international-airport.html

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Taxi - cabs in Fortaleza are metered and drivers are normally honest. Except for the special taxis from the airport, all cabs run on the same meter system. Start price is R$2,96, and then R$1.48 per km. Evening and weekend rates are 30% higher.
Public buses - Fortaleza has a pretty comprehensive public bus service. Practically, the whole city can be done almost entirely by bus - in case you want to save on transportation. Ticket price is R$1.60 - with some rare exceptions.
Moto taxi - an enjoyable way to travel around Fortaleza. Bear in mind that it could turn into a rather scary experience when traffic is heavy. In general, price of moto taxis is half the price of a regular cab.

HISTORY
Fortaleza was founded in 1603 when the Portuguese Pero Coelho de Souza built the Fortim de Sao Tiago in the estuary of Ceara River in 1603. The Province of the Ceara was separated from the Province of Pernanbuco in 1799. Shortly after, Fortaleza became the capital of the newly established province. During the 19th century, Fortaleza underwent through huge development, supported by the cotton growing.

CITY LINKS

Official website - http://www.fortaleza.ce.gov.br/
Fortaleza beach - http://www.canoa-quebrada.es/canoa_quebrada_brazil_en.html
Fortaleza travel guide - http://www.visitfortaleza.com/
Fortaleza news - http://www.topix.com/br/fortaleza
Pictures of Fortaleza - http://search.pbase.com/search?q=Fortaleza

UNIVERSITY LINKS

Federal University of Ceara - http://www.ufc.br/
State University of Ceara - http://www.uece.br/