Museum of Ceará Culture
The state's heritage.
CLAITON LUIS MORAES — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joelkaula — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Joelkaula — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yurai123 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Dragão do Mar Centre is a large cultural complex of 30,000 square metres in the old Praia de Iracema district, opened on 28 April 1999 and named after the Sea Dragon, the nickname of Francisco José do Nascimento, the jangada raftsman who in 1881 led a strike refusing to carry enslaved people in the port of Fortaleza. The complex holds the Museum of Ceará Culture, the Museum of Contemporary Art, a planetarium, cinemas, a theatre and a library, and a broad green square used for concerts. Its architecture blends modern buildings with old warehouses put to new use, joined by walkways and suspended bridges. The museums are free, and most of the centre's programme is free or cheap. The district around it is the heart of Fortaleza's nightlife, with restaurants, cafés and bars, crowded on weekend evenings.
The state's heritage.
Evening shows.
Between buildings.
Rua Dragão do Mar, Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza
Ponte dos Ingleses (English Bridge)The Ponte dos Ingleses is a long pier reaching out to sea from Praia de Iracema,6 minutes walk4.6
Mercado Central, FortalezaThe Mercado Central is Fortaleza's biggest handicraft market, in the city centre6 minutes walk4.3
Theatro José de AlencarThe Theatro José de Alencar is the most beautiful of Fortaleza's historic buildi18 minutes walk4.6After the nickname, Sea Dragon, of the raftsman Francisco José do Nascimento, who in 1881 refused to carry enslaved people in the port of Fortaleza.