Located at the mouth of the Amazon River, this Brazilian city blends colonial architecture with rainforest proximity. Its markets showcase local Amazonian products and cuisine.
Belém, the capital of Pará state in northern Brazil, sits at the gateway to the Amazon River. This city is rich in colonial Portuguese architecture and Amazonian culture. In Belém, you can explore the Ver-o-Peso market with its exotic fruits and medicinal herbs, watch a performance at the Theatro da Paz, wander through the mango tree-lined streets of Cidade Velha, and participate in the Círio de Nazaré religious festival.
Exploring Ver-o-Peso Market
The Ver-o-Peso market is central to Belém's daily life and draws many travelers. This open-air market, dating back to 1625, covers an area equivalent to four city blocks. As you walk through the market, you'll encounter a mix of sights, sounds, and smells. Vendors sell fresh Amazonian fish, exotic fruits, medicinal herbs, and local handicrafts. You can sample regional specialties like açaí berries or tacacá, a hot soup made with shrimp, manioc starch, and jambu leaves.
Discovering Colonial Belém
Belém's old town, known as Cidade Velha, reflects the city's colonial past. The narrow streets are lined with colorful buildings adorned with Portuguese azulejos tiles. You'll find the Forte do Presépio, a 17th-century fort that marks the city's founding site, and the ornate Igreja de Santo Alexandre, one of Belém's oldest churches. The Feliz Lusitânia complex houses several museums displaying the region's history and art. Many streets are shaded by mango trees, which has led to Belém being called the "Mango Tree City."
Experiencing the Círio de Nazaré
If you visit Belém in October, you can witness the Círio de Nazaré, one of the world's largest religious processions. This 15-day festival honors Our Lady of Nazareth, the patron saint of Pará. The main event occurs on the second Sunday of October when over a million pilgrims follow an image of the Virgin through the city streets. The festival combines religious devotion with cultural celebrations, including parades, music, and regional cuisine. The scale and emotion of this event make it a significant experience, even for non-religious visitors.
Tasting Amazonian Cuisine
UNESCO recognizes Belém as a Creative City of Gastronomy. The city's cuisine combines indigenous, African, and Portuguese influences, using ingredients from the Amazon rainforest. You can try maniçoba, a dish made from manioc leaves slow-cooked for a week, or pato no tucupi, duck in a sauce made from wild manioc root. At Remanso do Bosque, chef Thiago Castanho creates innovative dishes using local ingredients. You can also try açaí in its traditional form – as a savory side dish rather than a sweet smoothie.
Visiting Estação das Docas
The Estação das Docas is a refurbished dockside warehouse complex with restaurants, bars, and cultural spaces. You can walk along the waterfront and see views of Guajará Bay. The complex offers regional cuisine, cultural performances, and local handicrafts. You can also take boat tours around the bay from here, seeing the city from the water.
How to Reach Belém
You can fly into Val de Cans International Airport, which connects to major Brazilian cities and some international destinations. From the airport, take a taxi or bus to the city center. If you're already in Brazil, you can reach Belém by long-distance bus from cities like Fortaleza or São Luís, though the journey can take many hours. For a different experience, you can travel to Belém by boat from Manaus, a journey that takes about five days and travels along the Amazon River.
