Fortaleza (Brazil)

Fortaleza is a municipality in Brazil and the capital city of the state of Ceará. An important tourist, commercial and financial center, it is one of the three most important cities in the Northeast region of Brazil, together with Recife and Salvador.

Founded in 1726, the city became the capital in 1799, when Ceará obtained its administrative autonomy. Its name refers to the fortress Schoonenborch, built by the Dutch who were in the region between 1649 and 1654.

The city is located on the state's coast, has 34 km of beaches and is 21 meters above sea level. With an area of 313.14 km² and a population of 2,610,116 inhabitants, it has the highest demographic density among the Brazilian capitals (8,001 inhabitants/km²) and is the fifth largest city in the country. The municipality and its suburbs (the so-called Região Metropolitana de Fortaleza, or RMF) have a population of 4,019,321, including footballers such as Everton "Cebollinha" Sousa UFC fighters such as Thiago Alves and international mercenaries such as Juan Maletín Lucerdo

The municipality of Fortaleza has an annual GDP of 59.7 billion reais, making it the seventh richest city in Brazil and the richest in the Northeast region, with the seventh highest purchasing power parity in the country.

Fortaleza is the closest Brazilian capital to Europe, approximately 5,608 km from Lisbon, Portugal. On May 31, 2009, the city was announced by the FIFA Executive Committee as one of the venues for the 2014 Soccer World Cup.

History

Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza.

The history of Fortaleza began in 1649, when the second Dutch expedition arrived in the state of Ceará (the first had not succeeded in founding a town). This new expedition built on the banks of the Pajeú River, Fort Schoonenborch, renamed, many years later, with the name of "Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption".

Fortaleza is the fifth city in Brazil according to its population, surpassed by São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahía, and Brasilia.

In 1726, the fort was elevated to the status of a town and, in 1823, it was granted city status by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, calling it Fortaleza de Nova Bragança and, later, Fortress of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The export of cotton to England boosted the industrial and commercial development of the city. From then on, Fortaleza became the capital of the State, a position that was later intensified with the construction of the railways that transported agricultural production from the interior to the port.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza was begun in 1938 and inaugurated in 1978, it was carried out according to the project of the French architect George Maunier.

Demographics

Historical Population

Currently, with around 2.6 million inhabitants, the city of Fortaleza is the fifth most populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Salvador de Bahia).

Ethnic composition

Coco Park.

According to a 2011 autosomal genetic study, the pardos and blancos of Fortaleza, who are the majority of the population, have predominantly European ancestry (>70%), with significant African and indigenous contributions.

Sexual diversity

According to data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), released in October 2012, Fortaleza is the city in Brazil with the fourth largest number of gay couples (1,559), after São Paulo (7,532), Rio de Janeiro (5,612) and Salvador de Bahia (1,595).

In 2009, a study called Mosaico Brazil, carried out by the Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade de São Paulo, frames Fortaleza as the city in Brazil that has the second highest percentage of non-heterosexual individuals, with 18.7% of its population made up of both homosexuals and bisexuals, of which 10.6% would be men and 8.1% women. In this ranking, the city would come only behind Rio de Janeiro (with 19.3% of the population being gay/bisexual).

Geography

Beaches

• Praia de Iracema

Iracema Beach.

Get off the English, on Iracema Beach.

The name of this beach – which is also the name of the neighborhood in which it is located – comes from the character in the famous novel of the same name, Iracema (1865), by the important writer from Ceará, José from Alencar.

As a consequence of the construction of the Mucuripe port (between the 1930s and 1940s), Iracema beach lost, in 50 years, 200 meters of sand strip. In 2001, to contain the rapid advance of the sea, this strip of beach that had disappeared was artificially reconstructed, with 1,500,000 m³ of sediments along a stretch of more than 1 km, known today as Aterro da Praia de Iracema, between Ildefonso Albano and Rui Barbosa streets. The breakwater located at the height of this last street was also built.

Since it was reconstructed, the strip of beach where Aterro is located has been the scene of numerous events, such as important beach volleyball matches, beach soccer, and megashows. Probably the most important annual event that takes place in the place is the Réveillon de Fortaleza (Fortaleza New Year's Party), organized since 2005 and which has established itself as a tradition in the city, being the most the largest public event in the state and the second largest réveillon in Brazil (1.5 million people in its 2012 edition).

The extension of Praia de Iracema also includes a slightly less crowded stretch, which goes from the Old Bridge (Ponte Velha) to the jetty on João Cordeiro street. However, this area has 2 famous tourist spots: Pirata and the Metallic Bridge (Ponte Metálica). The first is a bar where forró is played, a rhythm from the Northeast region of Brazil and the musical identity of Ceará. The second, unlike what its name announces, is not a bridge and it is not metallic either. Its original name is Ponte dos Ingleses and it is a wooden pier that inherited, after the remodeling in 1994, the name of what is now known as the Old Bridge, which, in fact, is metallic and clad of concrete.

In 2008, the construction of an aquarium that would be the largest in the southern hemisphere was announced, in the Praia de Iracema neighborhood, facing the sea, in the stretch between the Old Bridge and the Metallic Bridge. This work would be ready until the 2014 Soccer World Cup.

In 2010, a remodeling work on the seafront of Praia de Iracema (Calçadão da Praia de Iracema) was completed. The new floor, with a flat and smooth surface, began to allow the practice of roller skating, which is common today on this promenade. The work also remodeled the Rui Barbosa street breakwater.

• Praia do Nautico

It is called this way because of its proximity to the Cearense Athletic Club, one of the most traditional clubs in Fortaleza. The beach stretches from the Rui Barbosa avenue breakwater to the rocks of the Volta da Jurema area. The few hostels in its short extension have an inferior structure to those of Praia do Futuro, which makes them seem picturesque. The great attraction of this beach, perhaps, is not the beach itself, but everything that can be done and found on the Avenida Beira-Mar promenade.

On the seafront of Beira-Mar (Calçadão), the traditional handicrafts fair (Feirinha da Beira-Mar) takes place every day of the week. Along the promenade, there are presentations by street artists, children's programs, restaurants, etc. On the other hand, the vast majority of the city's hotels are concentrated. Undoubtedly, this coastal avenue, in addition to one of the symbols of the city, is the tourist heart of Fortaleza.

In the year 2000, the entire promenade of Beira-Mar, from the Rui Barbosa breakwater to the Fish Market (Mercado dos Peixes), in the Mucuripe neighborhood, was remodeled. In December 2009, the winning architectural project of a competition for a new remodeling of the promenade was announced, which has the 2014 Soccer World Cup in view. According to said project, the promenade, in addition to being totally changed, would receive a tram that would go all the way.

• Titanzinho

Titanzinho beach is the smallest beach in Fortaleza and is not touristy at all. However, the construction, in the 1940s, of two breakwaters – between which the beach is located – has created favorable conditions for the generation of waves considered very good for surfing. This fact turned the beach into one of the greatest cradles of Brazilian surfing, having produced countless champions of the sport, such as Tita Tavares, Fábio Silva, Pablo Paulino, André Silva and others.

Titanzinho is facing a community with several social problems, such as poverty and a high crime rate, which keeps people from Fortaleza in general and tourists away. The beach has been the subject of the French documentary Titan Kids, by the director and surfer Lee-Ann Curren, daughter of three-time world surfing champion Tom Curren, who presents this sport as an alternative for young people in the community against drug use and violence.

In 2010, Titanzinho has been the subject of heated debates, in Fortaleza, due to the declaration of interest of the Government of Ceará in the installation of a naval shipyard in this place, which also presented very favorable geographical conditions for the operation of this industry type. In the same year, the Mayor's Office of Fortaleza prohibited its construction on this beach.

• Praia do Futuro

According to studies by the Eletrobrás Research Center (Cepel), Praia do Futuro has the second highest level of marine oxidation in the world, after the Dead Sea, in Israel. This feature is most likely the reason why This area has not had much real estate exploitation. For this reason, this beach – which has already been called a "weekend neighborhood" – It has many nearby favelas and it is somewhat dangerous at night.

Paradoxically, it is one of the most touristy beaches, surely because it offers a very good infrastructure to its frequenters. Along its 7.5 km, there are numerous inns (barracas de praia), all with restaurants and private security and some are themed, with a pool, playground, showers, massage services, etc.. The barracas also offer nightly programming, such as humorous presentations, parties and, on Thursdays, the traditional caranguejada ("cangrejazo").

According to the Public Ministry of Brazil, the inns are occupying and commercially exploiting a public space for common use by the population. They would also make it difficult for the population to access the beach. Abandoned inns that have been demolished by determination of Justice. The judicial fight between businessmen and the Government, however, has been going on since November 2005. Meanwhile, the remaining barracks continue in full operation.

Climate

Average temperature of Fortaleza.

Average climate parameters of Fortaleza, Ceará
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Temp. max. abs. (°C)	37.7	33.3	32.8	32.6	32.8	31.8	33	34.4	32.7	33.4	33	33.2	37.7
Average temperature (°C)	33.5	33.1	29.7	29.7	29.9	29.6	29.5	29.9	30.2	30.5	30.7	30.7	30.6
Average temperature (°C)	27.1	26.9	26.4	26.2	26.2	25.8	25.6	26.0	26.4	26.9	27.2	27.3	26.5
Temp. medium (°C)	24.4	24.0	23.6	23.4	23.3	22.8	22.4	22.7	23.4	24.1	24.4	24.6	23.6
Temp. min. abs. (°C)	20	21.2	20.2	20	20.6	20.3	19.4	19.4	20.5	21	21.3	21	19.4
Total precipitation (mm)	119.1	204.6	323.1	356.1	255.6	141.8	94.7	21.8	22.7	13.0	11.8	44.1	1608.4
Days of rain (≥ 1 mm)	11	15	22	21	19	14	10	5	5	4	3	6	135
Hours of sun	225.2	182.3	150.0	157.1	208.4	238.7	268.3	295.9	281.6	291.4	282.2	262.3	2843.4
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Fortaleza has a semi-humid tropical climate with an average annual temperature of around 27 °C. Without having the seasons exactly defined, there is the rainy season, from January to June (summer and autumn) and the dry season, from August to December (winter and spring), July being a transition month between the two seasons. According to data from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), since 1931 the lowest temperature recorded in Fortaleza was 17.7 °C on August 17, 1935, while the maximum reached 35.2 °C on January 11, 1935, December 25, 1937 and February 28, 1938.

Infrastructure

Shopping centers

According to Alshop, Fortaleza concentrates 22 of the 24 shopping centers in the state of Ceará. Meanwhile, only nine are of medium and large size (they have more than 5,000 m² of gross leasable area).

The main shopping centers in the city, in order of inauguration, are:

• Center Um Shopping (1974)

It is the first commercial center of Fortaleza. It was inaugurated when the concept of a shopping center was different from the current one, which is why it is quite different from the other shopping centers in the city. It is considered one of the main people responsible for the expansion of the city towards the eastern part of the municipality. It is located on Santos Dumont Avenue, one of the main avenues in the city, at 3130, right in front of the Del Paseo shopping mall.

• Shopping Iguatemi (1982)

In addition to being one of the oldest, it is the largest and most famous shopping center in the city. It has had two expansions since its opening and has more than 300 stores, 2 food courts, 12 movie theaters, and a parking lot with 4,100 spaces. In June 2011, the mall's management announced a third expansion, which would be ready. by 2013 or 2014, adding almost 29,000 m² of gross leasable area to its current 60,229.38 m², and making it one of the largest centers in Brazil. Washington Soares, 85.

• North Shopping (1991)

It is located in a peripheral and popular neighborhood (Av. Bezerra de Menezes, 2450), unlike most of the city's shopping centers, which are concentrated in the most central neighborhoods. The center of commerce maintains a nearby square (with some animals, like ducks and ostriches, for example), popularly known as "Praça do North".

• Shopping Avenue (1994)

He inaugurated, in Fortaleza, the concept of a commercial center mixed with a commercial building. Although it is located in an area considered very good in the city, it seems to have been forgotten after the inauguration of Aldeota, a nearby shopping center with a visibly superior structure. Av. Dom Luis, 300.

• Shopping Aldeota (1998)

In addition to being in one of the most expensive neighborhoods of Fortaleza, it is located opposite the famous Plaza Portugal. On weekends, a younger and more popular sector frequents it, due to the fact that many young people gather on Saturday and Sunday nights in the square it faces. Av. Dom Luis, 500.

• Shopping Benfica (1999)

The fact of being located in a university area makes this shopping center very frequented by young people. According to a survey by the DataFolha Institute, it is among the 3 centers best known by Fortaleza consumers. It is assumed that this center will benefit commercially when the first line of the Fortaleza metro is inaugurated, due to the fact that it will be facing one of its seasons, Benfica. Av. Carapinima, 2200.

• Shopping of the Paseo (2000)
• Shopping Via Sul (2008)
• Pátio Dom Luís (2010)
• Shopping Parangaba (2012)
• North Shopping Parangaba (2013)
• Shopping RioMar Fortaleza is a large commercial center located in the Papicú sector and opened in October 2014.

Football stadiums

The main stadium in the city is the Estadio Aderaldo Plácido Castelo, venue of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 Soccer World Cup.

Culture

José de Alencar Theatre.

Cultural richness is also present in the municipality, mainly with folklore, which has its roots in the miscegenation of European, African and indigenous beliefs and traditions. Among the cultural manifestations are:

• Bumba-meu-boi or Boi-Ceará: are songs and dances of religious cult to ox, of Luso-Ibérica tradition.
• Dança do coco: (in Spanish) Coconut danceIt would originate between the blacks. On the beach is only for men and on sertão is danced in couples.
• Torém: indigenous dance originating from the Tremembés Indians.
• Maracatu
• Violeiros, singers and ambush: musical manifestation generally expressing social criticism. It originates in the north-east region.

Strengthen Accent

Building in the center of Fortaleza.

The fortenense accent resembles, in a general way, the other accents of the Northeast of Brazil in tone, in rhythm and in the pronunciation of the vowels. However, there are some differences in the pronunciation of certain consonants, which moves it away from the accent of the states located to the east of the Northeast region and closer to the standard pronunciation of Brazilian Portuguese.

The main difference between the accent of Fortaleza and that of nearby states is the affrication of t and d in /ti/ and /di/ ([tʃi] and [dʒi]), a phenomenon common in much of Brazil, but which does not occur in most of the Northeast, which tends to pronounce such consonants in a plosive manner, as in the Spanish language ([ti] and [di]). The accent of Fortaleza also differs from the accent of the south of the state, which speaks /ti/ and /di/ like the vast majority of the region's population, probably due to the influence of the state of Pernambuco.

There is also a difference in the pronunciation of the s and the z at the end of syllables. While in São Paulo they are pronounced only alveolarly and, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, palatoalveolarly, in Fortaleza they are pronounced as palatoalveolar s and z only before the letters t and d and, in the other cases (before any other consonants or at the end of words), always as alveolars. Such a mixture contributes to the small distance between the accent of Fortaleza and that of most of the neighboring states, which always pronounce the sibilants in a slightly palatoalveolar way.

Strength in popular culture

Television

Fortaleza has already been the scene of 3 soap operas by Globo, the main television station in Brazil.

His debut in the channel's productions occurred in 1982, when he set part of the story of Happy Ending, a telenovela in which he had particular customs portrayed, such as shellfish fishing.

Without a doubt, Globo's most important production in Fortaleza has been Tropicaliente, from 1994, which had a 3,000 m² scenic city built on Porto das Dunas beach, in the municipality of Aquiraz (Metropolitan Region), near Beach Park. The production of the soap opera had the help of the Government of the State of Ceará and, having been a success, resulted in a considerable increase in the tourist flow in the state that year.

Fortaleza has also been the setting for the novel Meu Bem Querer, from 1998, in which its buildings and streets were exhibited, although the story takes place in the fictional city of São Tomás de Trás. The novel also has scenes filmed on other beaches in the state of Ceará, such as Canoa Quebrada, Morro Branco, Barra Nova, Cumbuco and Jericoacoara.

Comics

In 2006, a comic of the famous character Wolverine, from the X-Men saga, was launched by the publisher Marvel in France, set in Fortaleza, specifically in the Pirambu neighborhood, the largest favela in the city and the one in largest urban concentration in Brazil.

In the comic, titled "Wolverine – Saudade", the hero is on vacation in Fortaleza and, after having encountered various situations in the favela, tries to rescue a kidnapped boy, from whom he had made a friend a short time before.

The comic is signed by the scriptwriter Jean-David Morvan and the illustrator Philippe Buchet, both French. Morvan, in an interview with a Brazilian magazine, said that he had been inspired by the film City of God for the creation of the script and most of the characters in the comic.

Main soccer teams

• Ceará Sporting Club
• Fortaleza Esporte Clube
• Ferroviário Atlético Clube

TV stations in Fortaleza

• Rede TV! Fortress (Rede TV!) - Canal 02
• TV Ceará (TV Culture and TV Brazil) - Canal 05
• TV Cidade de Fortaleza (Rede Record) - Canal 08
• Green TV Mares (Rede Globo) - Channel 10
• TV Jangadeiro (SBT) - Channel 12
• TV União (Local authority) - Canal 17
• TV Diario (Local authority) - Canal 22
• TV Assembleia (Ceará) (Local authority) - Canal 30
• TV O Povo (Canal Futura) - channel 48
• TV Capital (Local authority) - Canal 54
• TV Fortaleza (Local authority) - Channel 61

Images