Fortaleza Carnival, Brazil

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What is the Carnival of Fortaleza?

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Carnivals in Fortaleza are celebrations held in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil and are considered one of the best festivals in the entire northeast of the country. The Fortaleza Carnival is known for promoting art and culture, in addition to an acrobatic show that has gained great popularity. The city offers an extensive program full of musical performances by famousBrazilian artists and numerous street parties.

The Carnival of Ceará, as the Carnival of Fortaleza is also known, is very diverse and has no specific point of celebration. There are several points of interest in the city, so people locate themselves in the place that most pleases them to party. Some of the most crowded spots are Praia de Iracema, Avenida Domingos Olímpio and Praça do Ferreira where large shows and presentations of “blocos”, small parades made by communities and groups, take place.

 

 

OnIracema beach there are performances of Maracatu, a wide variety of rhythms from northeastern Brazil. On Avenida Domingos Olímpio is the official parade of carnival associations and on Praça do Ferreira are the pre-carnivals. Also, in some neighborhoods and plazas there are several street shows and carnivals in the hands of local artists.

The festivities begin in early February withpre-carnival parties on weekends, which function as a warm-up for the big festivities. In addition, there are also street carnivals, where bands and “blocos” play regional songs and samba in various streets.

Formerly, the carnivals were famous, since people used to paint their faces black, in order to enact Afro-Brazilian characters. However, the tradition has lost its use due to the disgust and negative reaction that this provoked.

 

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When is the Carnival of Fortaleza?

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Lthe carnivals of Fortaleza will take place from approximately February 13 to 16. However, the “blocos” will start from the 6th of that month.

 

 

History of the Carnivals of Fortaleza

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Carnival in Brazil arrived with the Portuguese, when they began to impose theEuropean traditions of carnivals. However, due to the diverse cultural contact with other cultures at that time, especially with the African, the festivities were highly influenced by diverse cultural movements of this continent. The Africans were responsible for much of the configuration of the festivities in the country.

Between the 1940s and 1960s, Fortaleza witnessed the success of different schools that encouraged the cultural formation of carnival. These schools offered training for both adults and children. One of the cultural manifestations that began to emerge at that time was the well-known negrume, which consisted of painting the participants’ faces black. This movement served as a way to commemorate African culture, to recognize and promote ethical respect for ancestors who suffered from racial inequality centuries ago. However, today it is a topic that generates some controversy, as many people find this practice offensive.

The greatest legacy of African culture in Carnival was the maracatu, a musical genre with strong African overtones. The blocos were also part of the history of the carnivals from the beginning. The groups or blocos made up of marchinhas and schools samba performed parades at different points, the most popular at the time was on Duque de Caxias Avenue, but there was also Don Manuel Avenue. After the Second World War, the carnivals acquired a movement of social criticism towards what was happening during the war, they also criticized politicians and social constructs.

Today the Carnival of Fortaleza is the result of a greattrajectory of culture and history of the different ethnic groups that made up the region, making them one of the most visited festivals in the country.

 

Where is the Fortaleza Carnival

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The carnivals of Fortaleza are held in the municipality of Fortaleza, state of Ceará in the northeast of the country. The main points of concentration are Domingos Olímpio Avenue, Iracema Beach and Plaça do Ferreira.

 

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How is Fortaleza’s Carnival celebrated?

The celebrations of the carnivals of Fortaleza formally begin in mid-February or early March. However, the blocos begin to appear a few weeks earlier. In these blocos people take to the streets to hold their own parades and celebrate the carnivals in their own way. These blocos are mainly carnival groups that provide live entertainment at various public spots.

When the festivities formally begin, on the first day the focal point of the celebrations is at Iracema beach, where there are great performances of Maracatu and traditional music. On Domingos Olímpio Avenue the main carnival parade takes place. In addition, that is also where activities, dances, music and scenography of the festivities take place.

The parade is definitely one of the most important elements of the carnival. During the event, the spirit of carnival reaches every corner of the city. The parade is the perfect space for the characters to let their imagination fly, as you can find costumes and impressive costumes and music everywhere. The floats are part of the parade as well, loaded with flowers and unique and colorful decorations.

 

Tips for going to the Carnival of Fortaleza

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If you decide to visit Fortaleza to see its carnivals, we advise you to attend the blocos, as most of these are free admission. In addition, it is where the party is experienced by locals and local samba schools.

We also recommend planning your trip in advance and working on a travel itinerary.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:

 

Events at Carnival in Fortaleza

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The city is filled with events during the Carnival of Fortaleza. The main event is the parade that takes place on Avenida Domingos Olímpio, wherelarge floats, decorated with beautiful designs, can be seen. In addition, there is also the presence of dancers and participants wearing eye-catching costumes and disguises. Finally, the bands and musicians can not miss to close the event with a flourish.

 

 

Besides this, Fortaleza Carnival also offers pre-Carnival events in the different areas of the city, one of the most important points is the Praça do Ferreira, where people go out to celebrate Carnival on their own. These parties are held a week before the official start and people take over their neighborhoods or quarters to fill the streets with excitement and motivate people for the big party that takes place in the coming weeks.

There are also events, live music and performances in Praia Iracema, where you can feel the great influence of the African peoples in the rhythm of the songs. This is one of the longest traditions in the region and is one of the most significant aspects of the carnival.

 

 

Fortaleza Carnival Parades

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The Fortaleza parade starts at 6:40 pm and takes place on Domingos Olímpio Avenue, where dancers, bands and musicians participate. People come out to enjoy and dance, also to put on a show and show all the people their costumes and colorful costumes..

The parade is one of the most awaited events, in which you can be a great influence on theAfrican culture. Some people paint their faces with soot, wearing colorful clothes while dancing to the rhythm of traditional music. Other people wear ostentatious and colorful costumes, equally moving to the rhythm of the music and the samba.

 

Parade route

 

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The parade starts at 6:40 pm on Domingos Olímpio Avenue, between Universidade and Aguanambi avenues.

 

 

What to eat at the Carnival in Fortaleza

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One of the typical local dishes is peixada cearense, a hearty fish stew with coconut milk and onions. There is also the baião de dois, a typical rice dish with beans and coalho cheese.

Some of the local food options the city offers are: Coco Bambu Frutos do Mar, Coco Bambu – Dom Pastel and Coco Bambu Sul Restaurante.

 

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Fortaleza Carnival

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Inside the carnival you have different activities that you can see and be part of. One of them is the bloco that takes place in different parts of the city, including in the parade. Here you can see the different local and samba school groups performing incredible live presentations. You can alsogo to the different music concerts by different local and regional artists. Finally, you can’t miss the main parade on Avenida Domingos Olímpio which is when the carnivals reach their climax, thepeople come out to enjoy the show and see the dances and floats passing through the streets.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

 

What to see and do outside of Fortaleza Carnival

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Some of the attractions that the city of Fortaleza offers you are:

 

Praia do Futuro

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It is one of the most popular beaches in the city, it is always clean and its waters are perfect to spend the whole day. In its vicinity there are bars where you can buy some drinks or hang out.

 

Feirinha Beira Mar

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It is a market near the sea where you can buy handicrafts, local paintings and clothes at a much cheaper price than in malls or downtown stores. There are also some food stores.

 

Praia Iracema

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It is one of the most popular beaches. Here you can walk along its shores or spend the day in its calm waters and clean sand.

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets: .

 

Safety in Fortaleza Carnival

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The city of Fortaleza is relatively safe, however, there are some rules you should follow to avoid any kind of irregular situation in the streets. Try not to wear fancy clothes, wear expensive jewelry or expensive watches. Also, try not to carry too much cash and do not go out alone at night.

It is always a good idea to keep your belongings in a safe place to avoid theft or loss. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at the Carnival of Fortaleza

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During the carnival in Fortaleza it is a bit hot. The temperature ranges between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius. Be sure to bring sun protection and appropriate clothing.

 

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How to get to Fortaleza Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The city of Fortaleza has its own airport, Pinto Martins International Airport. From here you can reach the vicinity of the carnival with no problem.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by train

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From the airport you can take a cab and head to Benfica. Then you can take the train and go to São Benedito. If you walk for about 10 minutes you will reach the center where the carnivals are held.

 

How to get there by bus

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You can take the bus from the airport to Avenida Domingos Olímpio.

 

How to get there by car

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From the airport you take the different avenues and streets to get to Avenida Olímpio..

 

Where to stay in Fortaleza Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Grand Marquise Hotel

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5-star hotel 6 kilometers from the center. Rooms have air conditioning, minibar, satellite TV and bathroom, some of these have bathtub. Facilities include parking, free wifi, bar and swimming pool.

 

Hotel Três Caravelas

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3-star hotel 3.3 kilometers from the center. Rooms have closet and desk. Facilities offer family rooms, parking, restaurant and free hotel.

 

Hotel Sonata de Iracema

3 star hotel 3.2 kilometers from downtown. Rooms feature air conditioning, cable TV and sea views. The hotel offers free parking, free wifi, swimming pool and bar.

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.

 

Thank you for reading

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