Fortaleza, state Ceara

Форталеза, знаменитый район Ирасема См. Фото-галерею

Residents of the city are known as Fortalezenses. The current mayor is Luizianne Lins a former academic at the local Federal University of Ceará and well known feminist. On Beira-mar Avenue, kiosks and restaurants offer regional seafood, Sushi, Brazilian dishes and many more varieties of food; there are also many bars which provide anything from beer to cocktails. At the handcraft fair (the feirinhá), many stands show embroidery and leather work, as well as jewellery and regional food or artisinal cachaca's. Of the urban beaches in Fortaleza, Praia do Futuro is the most frequented and is characterized by restaurants along the beach, each one with its own musical style and decoration.

The statue of Iracema refers to the legend of the Indian which was depicted in a novel by José de Alencar, a famous Brazilian authour who orginated from Fortaleza. Mucuripe Beach holds the Lighthouse Museum. Opened in 1846, the lighthouse was active for 111 years, until it was closed in 1957.

Dragão do Mar Art and Culture Center holds the Cearense Culture Memorial, the Contemporary Art Museum and Rubens de Azevedo Planetarium, as well as movies and theaters. Besides this, many old warehouses were refurbished and became bars and restaurants surrounding the central area of town. There are cuisine and show options in the evening. It is most certainly one of the trendiest places to be seen.

Nightlife includes bars, nightclubss and restaurants, opened every day in the week, besides the characteristic comedy shows that have introduced nationally famous artists. An off-season carnival, Fortal, happens in Fortaleza in July. With a remodeled structure in 2008, the event has parking lots, bleachers, stalls and food court. The event lasts 4 days and around 1.5 million people enjoy the nationally famous axé music bands. Fortaleza also stages music festivals in Brazil, such as Ceará Music. This yearly event includes local artists and international pop rock stars for 3 days. Around 25 thousand people enjoy the fun and several concerts, electronic music tents, and fashion shows.

The Pinto Martins International Airport connects Fortaleza with major Brazilian cities and also operates international flights. The city is home to the Federal University of Ceará.

Since the end of the 19th century, the city has been home to various cultural institutions. The Instituto do Ceará (Ceará Institute) was established in 1887, and conducts research in history, geography and anthropology. The Academia Cearense de Letras (Cearense Academy of Letters) was the first institution of the sort in the country, established on August 15, 1894. In 1892, Fortaleza was the site of a cultural movement of literary expression called "Spiritual Bakery".

The Fortaleza Carnival season is famous the world over for its spectacle and impressive display of acrobatic dance and arts performance. Through the streets of Fortaleza, the Carnaval brings the samba spirit together with joyous festivities as a celebration of Fortaleza's past, its diverse culture and its promising future. In true Brazilian style, the Fortaleza carnival season is a major celebration of art and culture.

Throughout the streets of the city during the carnival season, tourists can witness dancing and singing, accompanied by processions of brass bands. There are also colourful displays and shows placed on open trucks as part of a parade travelling across the city. In areas like Avenida Beira-mar, the residents organise sessions of dancing in the streets, tourists can participate and witness the friendly vibrant atmosphere that the Fortaleza Carnival creates.