Maceió, capital of Alagoas state since 1839, lies in the coastal strip between the Lagoa Mundaú and the Atlantic. It is linked by BR 101 with Recife (285km/177mi north-east) and Aracaju (305km/190mi south-west).
Bus Station
Avenida Leste-Oeste
Airport
Aeroporto Nacional Campo dos Palmares
History
Maceió developed out of a sugar-cane plantation established in the 18th century on the site now occupied by Praça Dom Pedro II. In 1815 it was granted the status of vila, and in 1839 it became capital of Alagoas state.
To the north of Pratagi are the Praia de Ipioca (23km/14mi from Maceió), with a house which belonged to Marshal Floriano Peixoto, the fishing village of Paripueira (33km/21mi) and the Praia do Sonho Verde (38km/24mi).
From the Praia da Avenida a street running towards the city center leads to Praça Dom Pedro II, on which is the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres (1840).
In Rua João Pessoa, which runs past the Cathedral to Praça dos Martírios, are the church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (1829) and the Museum of the Historical Institute (opened 1869).
On Praça dos Martírios (also known as Praça Marechal Floriano Peixoto) is the Palácio Floriano Peixoto, now occupied by the State Government, and the Museu Pierre Chalita (State Art Gallery).
36km/22mi south-west of Maceió is the little town of Barra de São Miguel (pop. 5000), with the Praia da Barra (cliffs) and the Praia do Ginga (3km/2mi; reached only by boat, 15 minutes).
The Praia Jatiúca (6km/4mi from Maceió), popular with surfers, is lined by jangadas and numbers of fish-traps. Here too is one of the town's most fashionable hotels. Farther north are the Praias da Cruz das Almas (7km/4.5mi), Jacarecica (9km/5.6mi) and Guaxuma (12km/7.5mi).
The famous Praia Pajucara is 3km/2mi from Maceió. Jangadas take visitors to the swimming pools formed by the coral reefs and sandbanks which emerge at low tide; some jangadas, too, have been converted into small bars serving drinks and snacks. Adjoining Pajucara are the Praias dos Sete Coqueiros and da Ponta Verde (respectively 4km/2.5mi and 5km/3mi from Maceió).
Near Praia da Garça-Torta are Riacho Doce (16km/10mi) and Pratagi (17km/10.5mi), a new tourist center. This area, watered by the Rio Cabocó, has expanses of mangrove swamps, with water plants which provide food for manatees. The manatee, an aquatic mammal which can grow to a length of up to 4.5m/15ft and can weigh up to 600kg/1300lb, is an endangered species, but can occasionally be seen in this area. The beach is fringed by coral basins.
Around Maceió are a number of lovely beaches, not all of which are suitable for swimming. Along the shore of the Mundaú and lagoon are a number of small villages.
Porto Calvo, 105km/65mi north-east of Maceió and some distance inland, came into being during the Dutch invasion. It preserves a number of houses of the colonial period and the ruined church of Nossa Senhora da Apresentação (1630), with the baptismal font of Domingos Calabar, a Brazilian soldier who went over to the Dutch.
In Barra de Santo Antìnio, 45km/28mi from Maceió, are the beaches of Carro Quebrado, Luz Nova and Santa Luzia. Another attractive possibility here is a boat trip (10 minutes) to the island of Croa.
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Beaches and Lakes
