Ver-o-Peso: The Greatest Market in the Amazon
The Ver-o-Peso market — in continuous operation since 1688 — is the symbolic heart of Belém and the greatest Amazonian market; the iron pavilions on the Guajará bay sell açaí, exotic fish, medicinal plants, and love potions in a cacophony of colour
Belém's Belle Époque: Teatro da Paz & Rubber Boom Architecture
Belém's historic centre preserves an extraordinary legacy of the rubber boom era (1850-1920) — the Teatro da Paz, the Mercado de Ferro, and the azulejo-covered mansions of the Cidade Velha testify to the city's extraordinary rubber wealth
Belém as Amazon Gateway: Biodiversity Capital of Earth
Belém is the capital of Pará — the state covering much of the Brazilian Amazon — and the gateway to the world's largest rainforest; the Emílio Goeldi Museum, the Marajó island, and the rivers surrounding the city make it a biodiversity crossroads
Amazon Forest at Belém's Door: River & Rainforest
Belém sits at the Amazon's eastern gateway — the world's largest rainforest begins at the city's edge; the rivers, the islands, and the forest around the city provide extraordinary Amazon encounters without the multi-day journey upriver
Belém: Brazil's Finest Regional Cuisine
Belém is widely considered to have Brazil's best regional cuisine — the combination of Amazonian ingredients (açaí, tucupi, jambu, manioc), Indigenous cooking knowledge, and African-Portuguese technique creates a food culture of extraordinary depth
Belém Port: Gateway to the Amazon's River World
Belém's port is the gateway to the Amazon's river civilisation — the boats that depart from here carry passengers, goods, and culture to Santarém, Manaus, and hundreds of communities along the world's greatest river system
Ilha do Marajó: The Buffalo Island at the Amazon's Mouth
The Ilha do Marajó — the world's largest river island, at the mouth of the Amazon — is home to 450,000 buffalo (introduced by accident in the 19th century), extraordinary birdlife, and the Marajoara ceramic tradition
Círio de Nazaré: Two Million Pilgrims in the Amazon
The Círio de Nazaré — held in Belém every October — is the world's largest Catholic procession; two million pilgrims pull the rope attached to the image of Our Lady of Nazaré through the city in an act of devotion and gratitude