NORTH | AMAZONAS
The Parintins Folk Festival
Parintins city was founded in 1793 and its people presents
an artistic expression recognized worldwide due to their
folklore festival. The city has a population of more than
100,000 people and it is situated on the right bank of the
Amazon River on the Tupinambarana Island.
Parintins is situated 420 km from Manaus, the most used
transportation by the local population is the regional boat
by river with accommodations in hammocks, cabins and
suites. The trip on the Amazonas River from Manaus,
takes 15 hours going downstream, and 27 hours going
upstream. It takes 1 hour from Manaus to Parintins by air.
The Folklore Festival is considered one of the largest
cultural manifestations in Brazil. The June’s celebrations
begin to be presented in the school yards and at the
Cultural and Spots Arena (the Bumbódromo was built
in the shape of a bull’s head with a seating capacity of
35,000 spectators).
During the event the city of Parintins is divided into two
blocks: one blue and the other red - the colors of the two
ritual bulls Caprichoso and Garantido. Held on June 28,
29 and 30, the island is flooded by a multitude of people
from all parts of Brazil, and other countries of the world.
The highlight in the presentations is the revival of the
death of the bull, part of the legend that tells the story of
Mãe Catirina, who during her pregnancy craved for eating
ox tongue. Pai Francisco, her husband, sacrifices the bull
from the farm where he was employed to satisfy his wife´s
desire. The ranch owner discovers everything and decides
to capture Francisco with the help of his cowboys, but the
Indians help hide Pai Francisco from the cowboys. The local
priest and the doctor try to resuscitate the bull, to no avail.
The local Indian shaman uses his supernatural powers and
potions to revive the bull. With the bull alive again, the
party is restarted, in a frenzied and irresistible rhythm.
The cheering sections decorate their strongholds with
much creativity in order to complete the unforgettable
show. When entering the arena, the “Bois-Bumbás” are
met with fireworks and the war cry from the audience
echoes in the face at the silence of the opposite cheering
section.
“
Where happiness is
the only rule.
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”
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NORTH | PARA
Belem
Belém is a city in the northern part of Brazil. It is the
capital and also the biggest city of the state of Pará. Its
metropolitan area has approximately 2 million inhabitants.
It is the entrance gate and, together with Manaus, the
most important city in the Brazilian Amazon region.
Founded in 1616, Belém combines the Portuguese
mansions decorated with tiles that are concentrated in the
old town, with the modernity of “Docas” station, a port
area that was transformed in a gastronomic and cultural
pole.
Belém is 120km from the Atlantic Ocean and it has the
biggest port on the Amazon River. The city handles the
Amazonian production (chiefly Brazil nuts, aluminum,
cassava, and pepper) and has processing plants. North
Brazil’s largest airport and a coastal railroad enhance the
trade of Belém, which is also connected with Brasília by a
railroad and highway.
From Belém, you set sail for any place that is navigable
on the Amazon and its tributaries. It is a city outlined by
rivers, waterways and channels. Because of its abundance
of water, the equatorial heat is transformed into coolness
and pleasure. A seemingly typical Amazon city, with forest,
jungle, woods, and all the exuberance of the fauna and
flora of the region, Belém amazes one because it maintains
some harmony between the “cabocla” life and the
agitation of a capital.
One of the rainiest cities in the world, it has a “less wet”
season from July to December. But this is not as bad as it
sounds. Rain often comes and goes quickly and is a brief
respite from the equatorial heat.
Time: One hour behind Brasíla
Average Annual Temperature: 27ºC
Climate: Equatorial Humid
Rainfall: December to May
Airports:
Internacional de Belém
12 Km from Down Town
Due to the growing importance of rubber from the end of
the 19th until the beginning of the 20th century, Belém
became a very important marketplace. During this period
many important buildings were constructed, such as
Palácio Lauro Sodré, Colégio Gentil Bitencourt, Teatro da
Paz, Palácio Antônio Lemos and the Ver-o-Peso market.
In the first hours of the morning the Ver-o-Peso market is
teeming with activity.
Boats of all sizes arrive, bringing fruit, meat, fish and
many other products. Ver-o-Peso market has become the
postcard of Belém: colors, odors and flavors mix in a rich
and original landscape. This port harbors typical fishing
boats and canoes bringing various products, such as clay
handicraft and herbs from Amazon for different purposes.
There are herbs to cure diseases, perfumed herbs, aromatic
roots, alligator teeth, which according to local beliefs
protect people from evil, rabbit paws to attract happiness,
necklaces made of bids from the forest, etc.
Close to the market, one can also see the Solar da
Beira mansion, once the headquarters of the Municipal
Inspectorate and now a place where local handicraft is
sold. Its surrounding area is almost fully located in the
Amazonian Forest, except for some parts where the
vegetation is less dense - in the low Trombetas region and
in the Marajó archipelago.
The city is known for its Goeldi museum, with ethnological
and zoological collections of the Amazon basin. It also
has a botanical garden brilliant with exotic flowers, a
modern leprosarium, and the Federal University of Pará.
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NORTH | PARA
The government palace and the cathedral were built in the
18th century: Santo Alexandre, Belém’s oldest church, was
completed in 1616.
In Belém, one can taste the best of the region’s cuisine:
açaí, cupuaçu, bacuri, uxi, bacaba, pupunha, Brazil nuts.
Exotic and nutritive fruits are responsible, along with fish
and manioc flour, for the survival of a large part of the
population.
The indigenan heritage is alive in the strong tastes of the
dishes, such as the “tacacá” and the “pato no tucupi”.
All over town, mango trees decorate the streets and help
fight the heat.
Going shopping
Ver-o-Peso Market | Boulevard Castilhos França, Comércio
The market is a cultural and tourist symbol of Belém.
Shopping Center Iguatemi | Trv. Padre Eutíquio, 1078
- Batista Campos
An upscale shopping mall.
Eating out
Maria Belém | Rua Dr. Malcher, 85 beside Igreja da Sé
- Cidade Velha
Varied gastronomy, with exclusive dishes. Located in an old
mansion in the city center.
Lá em Casa/ O Outro | Av. Gov. José Malcher, 247 – Nazaré
The restaurant offers two ambiences: “Lá em casa” has an
open ceiling when it is not raining and “O Outro” serves
lunch in an air conditioned area. It prepares creative dishes
with Amazonian ingredients.
Le Massilia | | Rua Henrique Gurjão, 236 – Reduto
French cuisine. Candle lights dinner with french music.
Nightclubs
Mystical | Avenida Almirante Tamandaré, na Praça do
Arsenal, Arsenal
Nightclub with teatral performances. Mystic place with nice
decoration.
Metrô | Av.Governador José Malcher, between Benjamim
Constant e Rua Dr. Moraes, Nazaré
Big nightclub built in the underground. Dance Music.
Casablanca | Av. Senador Lemos, 175 - Umarizal
The nightclub has a big dance floor, bar and restaurant.
Dance Music.
Iguana | Avenida Wandenkolk, 247
Mexican ambience. Dance Music.
Shows
A Pororoca | Av. Senador Lemos, 3316 - Sacramenta
One of the most traditional places for regional “brega”
shows.
Metrópole City Hall | Rodovia Augusto Montenegro, KM
7, Castanheira
The music hall brings the best shows of national music to
Belém.
Where to go for a drink?
Bar do Parque | Pça da República, s/n° - Centro
It is one of the most traditional bars in Belém. It has
become a touristy point due to its history and charm.
Casanostra Café | Trav. Benjamin Constant, 1499
Happy hour and live shows every night.
Services & Tours
BEL 01 | Transfer in
One way transfer to or from International Airport, including
assistance and porterage (2 pieces per person).
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NORTH | PARA
Services & Tours
BEL 02 | HD City Tour
City Tour (3 hours) – Since the market is open only in the
morning, tour starts with a stop and visit to the picturesque
and busy Ver-O-Peso market; Our Lady of Nazareth Basilica
(closed on Mondays) and Emilio Goeldi Museum - botanical
and zoo, and passing by the major places of interest in
Belém including Teatro da Paz and Republica square.
BEL 03 | Tour To Icoaracy Village
Located 18km far from Belem, Icoaracy village is well known
by the great influence on the Marajoara´s tribe from Marajó
Island that developed one of the most interesting process of
making Marajoara and Tapajonic ceramic (the Amazonian
handcraft). This tour shows all the phases of making process
of the ceramic: the precedence of the argil, the process used
to clean the argil, the seeds used to change its color, how the
argil is dried, drawn and painted. 3 hours duration.
Hotels
Crowne Plaza Belem
«««««
Location | Nazaré neighborhood, 5 minutes from the city center and
20 minutes from the airport.
Rooms | 174 rooms equipped with 29” cable TV, internet high speed,
telephone, voice mail, air conditioning, safe box, mini bar, work desk.
Features | Restaurant, bar, business center, meeting room, swimming
pool, sauna and fitness center. Web site: under construction.
INAUGURATION: MARCH 2006
Hilton Belem
««««
Location |Centrally located in the commercial area of the city,
overlooking Republica Square and the majestic Teatro da Paz opera
house, the Hilton Belém has an ideal setting in this bustling Brazilian
city. The hotel is conveniently situated just 20 minutes from Belém
International Airport.
Rooms | It has 361 guest rooms and suites with balconies. All rooms
offer a panoramic view of the city of Belem, and have air conditioning
with individual controls, cable TV, direct-dial digital telephone
with Internet access, AM/FM radio, mini bar, and a hairdryer in the
bathrooms.
Features | Restaurant, bar, fitness center, sauna, swimming pool,
playground, meeting facilities to 500 persons.
www.hilton.com
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