Santarém, Brazil
Region: Santarém, Brazil is located in the state of Pará
Geographic Coordinates: -2.430000, -54.720000
Temperature Range: 20.0°C to 35.0°C (68°F to 95°F)
Climate: Tropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall throughout the year.
Population: 306480
Language: Portuguese
Santarém is a city in the northern region of Brazil, Located in the state of Pará. It is situated at the confluence of two major rivers, The Tapajós and Amazon Rivers, Making it an important transportation hub for both goods and people. The city has a rich history dating back to pre-colonial times when it was inhabited by indigenous tribes such as the Munduruku and Tapajós. In 1661, Santarém was founded by Portuguese colonizers who named it after Saint Jerome (São Jerônimo). One of Santarém’s most famous landmarks is its central square, Praça Tiradentes.
This lively plaza is surrounded by historic buildings such as the Baroque-style Nossa Senhora da Conceição Church and Casa da Cultura Joaquim de Figueiredo Corrêa – which houses a museum with exhibits on local culture and history. Visitors can also enjoy street performers, Food stalls selling traditional dishes like tacacá (a soup made with tapioca flour) or pastel de vento (fried pastry filled with cheese), Or simply relax on one of the many benches. Another popular attraction in Santarém is Alter do Chão beach – known locally as the Caribbean of Amazonia.
This stunning white sand beach stretches for several kilometers along the Tapajós River and offers crystal clear waters perfect for swimming or kayaking. Visitors can also explore nearby islands like Ilha do Amor or take a boat tour to see pink river dolphins. For those interested in nature and wildlife, Santarém offers several options for ecotourism activities.
One popular destination is Floresta Nacional do Tapajós – a protected area that covers over 600 thousand hectares of pristine rainforest home to jaguars, Monkeys, Birds like harpy eagles or toucans among others species; visitors can hike through trails while learning about sustainable forest management practices. Santarém is also known for its vibrant cultural scene. The city hosts several festivals throughout the year, Including the Festival de Jazz do Tapajós (Jazz Festival of Tapajós) and Festa de São João (Saint John’s Festival) – a celebration of traditional Brazilian music and dance.
Additionally, Visitors can experience local handicrafts like ceramics or woodcarvings at the Feira da Lua market or attend a performance at Teatro Victoria – one of the oldest theaters in Brazil. Santarém is a fascinating destination that offers something for everyone. From its rich history to stunning natural beauty and vibrant culture, There are plenty of reasons to visit this unique city in northern Brazil. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins or relaxing on a pristine beach, Santarém has it all!
- Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceição: This stunning cathedral is a famous landmark in Santarém, known for its intricate details and beautiful architecture.
- Alter do Chão Beach: A popular destination just outside of Santarém, this beach is perfect for tourists looking to relax and soak up the sun.
- Tapajós National Forest: A protected area with diverse wildlife, this national forest offers visitors the chance to explore some of Brazil’s most breathtaking natural landscapes.
- Museu Dica Frazão: This museum showcases the rich history and culture of Santarém, featuring exhibits on everything from local art to traditional crafts.
- Ponta de Pedras Beach: Another beloved beach near Santarém, Ponta de Pedras boasts crystal-clear waters and pristine sand.
- Mercado Municipal de Santarém: A bustling market offering delicious Brazilian cuisine as well as souvenirs and other local products.
- Encontro das Águas Park: Located on the banks of the Amazon River, this park is a wonderful spot to relax while enjoying a picnic or taking a boat tour of nature’s beauty.
- Floresta Nacional do Tapajós: Another protected area near Santarém, this national forest features miles of hiking trails through lush rainforest landscapes.
- Praça Tiradentes: A historic square in downtown Santarém home to several important monuments and buildings including an impressive statue dedicated to Brazilian independence hero Tiradentes.
- Estação Ecológica da Ilha do Marajó: A short boat ride from Santarem takes visitors to this beautiful ecological reserve on Marajo Island where they can explore pristine beaches dense forests unique wildlife habitats not found anywhere else in Brazil.
- Agriculture: Santarém is renowned for its production of soybeans, rice, corn, and other crops.
- Fishing: With its prime location near the Amazon River, Santarém has a thriving fishing industry.
- Timber: The region has abundant timber resources that are utilized in construction and furniture manufacturing.
- Tourism: Due to its close proximity to the Amazon rainforest, Santarém is a popular eco-tourism destination.
- Retail: Local residents and tourists alike can enjoy shopping at several malls and shopping centers throughout the city.
- Services: A variety of service-based businesses operate in Santarém such as healthcare providers, banks, hotels, restaurants, and transportation companies.
- Manufacturing: Small-scale manufacturing companies produce goods ranging from textiles to ceramics to food products within the city limits.
- The Tapajós Rebellion occurred in 1833 when the indigenous people of Santarém rebelled against the Brazilian government to resist colonization and defend their land rights.
- The Rubber Boom brought wealth and development to Santarém in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as it became a major center for rubber production.
- The Trans-Amazonian Highway was constructed in the 1970s by Brazil’s military government as part of its plan to develop and integrate the Amazon region into Brazil’s economy, passing through Santarém.
- Father Giovanni Gallo, an Italian priest who lived in Santarém for over 50 years, was known for his work with indigenous communities in defending their land rights.
- Maria Lúcia Petit fought against environmental destruction caused by mining companies in Santarém and other parts of Brazil as a social activist.
- Francisco Xavier de Mendonça Furtado founded Santarém in 1758 as part of Portugal’s efforts to expand its territory in South America during his time as colonial governor.
- Dom Macedo Costa played an important role promoting education and cultural development during the early 20th century while serving as bishop of Santarém.
- Cacique Raoni Metuktire gained international recognition for his advocacy work on behalf of Amazonian peoples and forests as an indigenous leader from nearby Xingu National Park.
- Museu Dica Frazão
- Museu João Fona
- Catedral Nossa Senhora da Conceição
- Praça do Mirante
- Parque da Cidade
- Monumento à Integração dos Povos (Monument to the Integration of Peoples)
- Centro Cultural João Fona (João Fona Cultural Center)
- Casa da Cultura de Santarém (Santarém Culture House)
- Mercado Municipal 2000 (Municipal Market 2000)
- Forte do Presépio de Santarém (Fortress of Santarém)
- Santarém, located in northern Brazil’s state of Pará, has a rich sports tradition with football (soccer) being the most popular sport.
- The city boasts of several famous teams such as São Raimundo Esporte Clube and Tapajós Futebol Clube.
- São Raimundo Esporte Clube was established in 1944 and has a remarkable history of success in regional competitions.
- The team has won numerous titles including the Campeonato Paraense (Pará State Championship) and the Copa Norte (North Cup).
- Tapajós Futebol Clube, founded in 1947, is also one of Santarém’s oldest football clubs.
- Over the years, they have had some success with winning several regional titles.
- Apart from football teams like LABS – Liga Atlética de Basquete de Santarém (basketball team) and AABB – Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil (volleyball team), other notable sports teams hail from Santarém as well.
- Festa do Çairé is an annual festival held in September in Santarém, celebrating indigenous culture with music, dance, food, and a procession to the Tapajós River.
- Festival de Folclore showcases traditional dance groups from all over Brazil and celebrates the diversity of Brazilian folklore.
- Festival de Música do Tapajós brings together local musicians and bands from various genres such as pop, rock, reggae, and samba.
- Encontro das Águas takes place on the banks of the Amazon River where locals celebrate their connection with nature through music, dance, and cultural activities.
- Feira da Agricultura Familiar e Agrotecnologia do Estado do Pará (Agropará) showcases agricultural products from small-scale farmers in the region along with innovative technologies for sustainable farming practices.
- Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated with processions through town featuring religious icons and traditions dating back centuries leading up to Easter.
- Carnaval de Santarém features samba dancers and local bands playing upbeat rhythms for everyone to enjoy! Although not as large as Rio’s carnival festivities it still has its own colorful parade.
- Tacacá da Dona Maria – a famous street food dish made with shrimp, jambu leaves, and tucupi sauce.
- Picanha na Chapa – a grilled beef dish served with rice, beans, and salad.
- Boto Tucuxi – a traditional Amazonian fish dish made with freshwater dolphin meat.
- Casa do Saulo – a restaurant that serves typical Amazonian dishes like tacacá, vatapá de camarão (shrimp stew), and maniçoba (a stew made with cassava leaves).
- Mercado Municipal 2000 – a market where you can find fresh produce from the region as well as local snacks like pastel de camarão (shrimp turnover) and banana chips.
- Peixaria do Miguelzinho – a seafood restaurant that serves grilled fish and other seafood dishes.
- Açaí da Praia – a popular spot for trying the famous Brazilian superfood, açai bowls topped with granola or fruit.
- La Doceria & Café – known for its delicious cakes and pastries as well as coffee drinks.
- Praça do Pescador- The square is full of food stalls selling everything from traditional Amazonian dishes to international cuisine such as pizza or sushi.
- Casa das Redes- It is known for its hammocks which are handmade by locals using natural fibers such as cotton or sisal rope. Alongside the hammocks they also serve some of the best regional foods including Manioc flour pancakes stuffed with cheese or meat called tapioca.
- Bosque Santa Lucia is a public park that offers walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy.
- Praia do Maracanã is a popular beach that attracts tourists and locals alike with its opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.
- Parque da Cidade is a large park that features hiking trails, sports fields, and an outdoor gym for exercise enthusiasts.
- Praça Tiradentes is a historic square that boasts beautiful gardens, fountains, and monuments for visitors to admire.
- Balneário Água Azul is a natural swimming pool surrounded by lush vegetation where people can take a refreshing dip in the water.
- Parque Ecológico da Floresta Nacional do Tapajós is an ecological park that offers hiking trails and birdwatching opportunities for nature lovers to explore.
- Praia de Pindobal is a secluded beach accessible only by boat or footpath where visitors can enjoy some peace and quiet away from the crowds.
- Parque Zoobotânico Mangal das Garças is a botanical garden featuring exotic plants as well as animals such as monkeys and birds of prey for animal lovers to marvel at.
- Lago Maicá provides visitors with the chance to go fishing or take boat rides on its tranquil waters while enjoying the scenery around them.
- Aquário de Santarém showcases fish species found in the Amazon region in its small aquarium which makes it an interesting destination for those interested in marine life.
