Holiday in Belém

What makes Belém special as a destination?

Belém is located directly at the mouth of the Amazon River into the Atlantic and is the gateway to the largest rainforest on Earth. The capital of the state of Pará was founded in 1616 by the Portuguese as Forte do Presépio and was one of the richest cities in South America during the rubber boom of the 19th century — theaters, palaces, and boulevards still bear witness to this era. The Ver-o-Peso market (literally: "See the Weight") is the largest and oldest open-air market in Latin America and has been a UNESCO World Heritage candidate since 2016. Over 30,000 square meters are filled with river fish, exotic fruits from the Amazon, medicinal plants, Brazil nut oil, and magical talismans. The atmosphere is most impressive early in the morning at 5 AM when the fishermen arrive. Belém is known worldwide as the birthplace of Açaí — the purple superfruit that is traditionally eaten here savory with fish, shrimp, or tapioca flour, rather than as a sweet bowl. In 2015, UNESCO designated Belém as a Creative City of Gastronomy, the first city in Brazil to receive this title. The Mangal das Garças is a 40,000 square meter mangrove garden on the banks of the Rio Guamá featuring a butterfly garden, aviary, and a lighthouse viewpoint. The Teatro da Paz, a neoclassical opera house from 1878, recalls the wealth of the rubber era and is one of the most beautiful theaters in Brazil. The Basilica de Nazaré is the site of the Cirio de Nazaré — the largest Catholic procession in the world. Every second Sunday in October, over two million believers march through the streets of Belém. The colonial architecture of Cidade Velha (Old Town) with the Forte do Presépio and the Praça do Relógio connects Portuguese history with Amazonian vibrancy.