Alcântara, in Maranhão, is a historic city that offers a rich combination of colonial architecture, evocative ruins, vibrant cultural traditions and beautiful natural landscapes. Located around 20 kilometres from São Luís, the state capital, Alcântara is a fascinating tourist destination that is easily accessible by boat.
Alcântara in Maranhão has a wealth of architecture, alternating between ruins and houses that document the heyday and decline of the city, whose birth dates back to the early 17th century.
A good day trip from São Luís do Maranhão, Alcântara was once one of the richest cities in Maranhão between the 18th and 19th centuries, but much of its historical heritage has been lost.
Traces of the past can be seen in colonial townhouses covered in Portuguese tiles, in the ruins of the Palácio Negro slave market and in the town hall building, which housed a public jail in the 18th century.
Opposite the Praça do Pelourinho are the ruins of the Igreja Matriz de São Matias and the interesting Museu Histórico, a fine example of period architecture.
Next to the church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo are the remains of two palaces built by rival aristocratic families to receive Emperor Dom Pedro II.
A fortune was poured into the works of the Barons of Pindaré and Mearim, but the monarch never came to Alcântara and they were later abandoned, symbolising the city’s decline.
Part of this story of decadence is remarkably told in the book Noite Sobre Alcântara, by the immortal Josué Montello.
As well as a tour of the churches and buildings in the centre, you can also visit the beaches in the surrounding area. They’re not spectacular, but they balance the tour between culture and nature.
Alcântara is a destination that offers an immersion in Brazil’s colonial past, with its ruins and historic mansions, as well as a deep contact with Maranhão’s culture and traditions. Popular festivals, preserved architecture and natural landscapes make Alcântara a unique place to visit and explore.
The genesis of the tile dates back to the civilisations of the Near and Far East. It was widely used as a decorative wall covering, especially for waterproofing masonry. It came to us from the Iberian Peninsula, especially from Portugal, which achieved great development between the 16th and 19th centuries. […]
The high season in Lençóis Maranhenses begins in June and continues until August, when the lagoons are full. But the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is open to visitors all year round. With good tourist facilities, Barreirinhas in Lençóis Maranhenses is the main base for exploring the crystal-clear lagoons formed by […]
Those who want to know the way of life of the wealthy families of São Luís of the past centuries, their customs, habits and curiosities cannot miss visiting the Historical and Artistic Museum of Maranhão. Housed in a 19th-century manor house, the museum reconstructs the dwellings of a São Luís […]
The Ribeirão Fountain or Fonte do Ribeirão is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist attractions in São Luís. Located between Rua do Ribeirão and Rua dos Afogados, the affective symbol of the city was handed over to the population after a long restoration carried out by the City Hall. […]
The Arthur Azevedo Theatre, one of the most beautiful postcards and an important show house in São Luís, as well as most Brazilian theatres built in the 19th century, was built to meet the wishes of the petty bourgeoisie of Ludovico at the time who, enriched by the prosperous cotton […]
The João Lisboa Square or Praça João Lisboa was initially called Largo do Carmo, due to the Nossa Senhora de Monte Carmelo Convent and Church, the square is linked to important historical facts of the city, such as the battle between the Dutch and the Portuguese. It was the site of […]
The Natural History and Archaeology Research Centre of Maranhão in São Luís holds a collection that includes gems. Even extinct, dinosaurs continue to cause fascination among people. In the Archaeology area, you can see tools, ceramics, lithic materials, tiles, and other relics of the past. In the Ethnology area, you will […]
Maranhão’s popular culture is the theme of the exhibitions at Casa de Nhozinho, a museum housed in an imposing 19th-century mansion located on Rua Portugal, one of the city’s most beautiful streets. The name of the museum is a tribute to the great Maranhão craftsman Antônio Bruno Nogueira, known as […]
Rua do Giz, which was once the setting for a soap opera, once housed an important economic corridor, and in opposition to this, was also the cradle of the bohemian life of São Luís do Maranhão. Among the alleys in the historic area of the city, Rua do Giz (or […]
Like most colonial religious temples in São Luís, the Church of São José do Desterro was rebuilt several times, especially after the fighting between the Portuguese and the Dutch that marked the city’s history. In the beginning it was a small chapel covered in straw with the main door facing […]
The João do Vale Theatre is one of the few spaces for artistic performances in São Luís. The building where it operates was originally a shed that served as a sugar warehouse owned by businessman Rocha Aguiar. Located in Largo do Comércio (Rua da Estrela), the shed was built in […]
The Convent of Mercês, which was also once a barracks, is now the headquarters of the Brazilian Republican Memory Foundation and was recently elected one of the Seven Treasures of São Luís. Its construction began in 1654, when the Mercedarians João Cerveira (from Maranhão de Alcântara) and Marcos Natividade arrived […]
Cine Éden is a sumptuous cinema-theatre whose façade is preserved and retains its original features, including the name of the space in self-relief. In the first half of the 20th century, when São Luís was gaining modern airs, moving from an agrarian-export economy to an urban-industrial one, there was a […]
Barreirinhas is the city considered to be the main gateway to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park and is home to the majority of tourist agencies. Barreirinhas offers an excellent base for exploring the wonders of Lençóis Maranhenses, with a variety of activities catering for different interests and levels of adventure. […]
Santo Amaro do Maranhão is a charming village and one of the gateways to the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. Less well known than Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro offers a quieter and more authentic experience, with stunning landscapes and an intimate connection with nature. The municipality of Santo Amaro do Maranhão has […]
Caburé is a charming little peninsula located between the Preguiças River and the Atlantic Ocean, and is one of the most fascinating stops on the speedboat trip along the Preguiças River. Located in the Lençóis Maranhenses region, Caburé offers a unique and diverse experience, combining beach, river, dunes and enchanting […]
Atins is a small, picturesque fishing village located at the mouth of the Preguiças River, in the Lençóis Maranhenses. Known for its beautiful natural landscapes, quiet beaches and rustic, cosy atmosphere, Atins has become a popular destination for tourists looking for an authentic and relaxing experience. Atins is a fishing […]
São Luís do Maranhão, capital of the state of Maranhão, is a city rich in history and culture, with many interesting curiosities. São Luís do Maranhão was founded by French, invaded by Dutch, colonised by the Portuguese. What was the result of this mixture? São Luís! The capital of Maranhão, […]
The Historic Center of São Luís do Maranhão stands out for the uniformity and simple and regular beauty of its buildings, forming one of the largest architectural ensembles of Portuguese essence still preserved in Latin America. The architecture we inherited from the Portuguese is the richest part of São Luís’ […]
The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park can be accessed mainly through three towns: Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro do Maranhão and Atins. Each of these towns offers different ways of accessing and exploring the park. The Lençois Maranhenses National Park is one of Brazil’s most impressive and unique destinations, famous for its vast […]
Cafua das Mercês in São Luís do Maranhão is a former slave depot, the place tells the history of black people through the exhibition of works of art and objects from the time of slavery, such as instruments of torture. Cafua das Mercês or Museu do Negro (Black Museum) currently […]
The Convent and Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo are located in Praça João Lisboa, in São Luís and belong to the Capuchin Order. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, integrated to the convent, is one of the most important and traditional Catholic temples in the city. The […]
The Benedito Leite Public Library, located in São Luís do Maranhão, is one of the most important public libraries in Brazil and the second oldest in the country. Founded on 3 May 1829, the library is an important centre for cultural and educational preservation. Since its creation on 3 May […]
The Cristo Rei Palace is located in Largo dos Amores and has 19th-century Ludoviscan architecture, having served as a home for nobles, Jesuit schools, headquarters of the Archbishopric and currently houses the headquarters of the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA). Predominantly neoclassical in style, the palace has a main staircase […]
The Casa de Cultura Josué Montello is part of the Maranhão State Culture System. It is designed to promote studies, research and work in the areas of literature, the arts, social sciences, history, geography, in short, the artistic and cultural manifestations of the state. Initially, the CCJM was housed in its […]
The Church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios or Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios dates from 1719 and is part of the urban ensemble of Gonçalves Dias Square, formerly Largo dos Remédios, where parties were held during the month of October, which made it famous, to the point of being […]
Gonçalves Dias Square was inaugurated in 1873 and is located on land belonging to the Order of São Francisco, on a promontory facing the Anil River that allows a view of the São Francisco Bridge and the neighbourhood of the same name. It is home to the Church of Nossa […]
The Igreja da Sé or Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória, is the Cathedral of São Luís do Maranhão. Located in the city’s Historic Centre, the Igreja da Sé is one of the region’s tourist attractions. It is worth admiring its façade and entering the church to discover its riches. […]
The Catarina Mina alley or Beco Catarina Mina in São Luís do Maranhão was named after the slave Catarina Rosa Pereira de Jesus, known for her great beauty and who, at the cost of much work and “favours” provided to the rich Portuguese, managed to gather enough money to buy […]
Casa Real Empório in the Historic Centre of São Luís is a pleasant space for meeting friends, a quick snack in the middle of the afternoon or a rest after a walk through the corners of the city centre. Casa Real Empório, located at Rua Engenheiro Couto, 59, one of the […]
The Palácio de La Ravardière or Palais de La Ravardière, built in 1689, was one of the first major buildings in the city and is the current administrative seat of the municipal government. The Palácio de La Ravardière was listed by the historical heritage, is located in one of the […]
The Palácio dos Leões (Lions Palace) is one of the most significant historical and architectural landmarks in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. 1. History of the Palácio dos Leões The Palácio dos Leões in São Luís do Maranhão has 3,000 square metres of built area, divided into three wings: residential, administrative […]
São Luís or São Luís do Maranhão is a Brazilian municipality and the capital of the state of Maranhão. With more than four centuries of history, the city gathers attractions portrayed as Cultural Heritage of Humanity, in addition to the largest architectural ensemble of Portuguese tiles in Latin America. The […]
Atins is a favoured destination for kitesurfing enthusiasts, offering ideal conditions with constant winds, shallow waters and a peaceful, picturesque atmosphere. Located at the mouth of the Preguiças River, in the heart of the Lençóis Maranhenses, Atins has become a popular meeting point for kitesurfers from all over the world. […]
The dunes of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park look like gigantic sheets of sand. The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is located in the municipalities of Paulino Neves, Tutóia, Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro, Primeira Cruz and Humberto de Campos. The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park covers 155,000 hectares of dunes, rivers, lagoons and […]
Alcântara, located in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, is a city rich in history and culture, offering a charming tourist destination. The streets of Alcântara, just 22 kilometres from São Luís do Maranhão, take tourists on a journey through history. They are lined with ruins and houses that document the heyday […]
São Luís do Maranhão, often just called São Luís, is an enchanting destination in the north-eastern region of Brazil. Known for its rich cultural heritage, historic architecture and vibrant traditions, São Luís offers a unique mix of attractions for tourists. Saint Louis was the first name of São Luís, a […]
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