Bobbin lace
Ceará's craft.
Paul R. Burley — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paul R. Burley — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paul R. Burley — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Mercado Central is Fortaleza's biggest handicraft market, in the city centre near the cathedral and the Fort of Our Lady of the Assumption that gave the city its name. Its story begins in 1809 with a wooden market for meat and fruit; fresh food was banned from it in 1931 and it became a crafts market, later moving into a large modern building on several floors. It has hundreds of small shops selling Ceará's best-known crafts: bobbin lace made by hand, colourful cotton hammocks, ceramics, cashew products from nuts to sweets, and embroidered clothing. There are also shops selling cachaça and other alcoholic drinks, so take note if you avoid them. Prices are open to bargaining, especially when buying several pieces, and mornings are the calmest time to shop. It is a short distance from the Dragão do Mar Centre.
Ceará's craft.
Colourful cotton.
Nuts and sweets.
Central Fortaleza, near the cathedral
Dragão do Mar Centre of Art and CultureThe Dragão do Mar Centre is a large cultural complex of 30,000 square metres in 6 minutes walk4.4
Theatro José de AlencarThe Theatro José de Alencar is the most beautiful of Fortaleza's historic buildi12 minutes walk4.6
Ponte dos Ingleses (English Bridge)The Ponte dos Ingleses is a long pier reaching out to sea from Praia de Iracema,12 minutes walk4.6Handmade bobbin lace, cotton hammocks, ceramics, cashew products and embroidered clothing; prices are open to bargaining.