Manaus Tourist Attractions
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Top Tourist Attractions in Manaus
Situation and CharacteristicsManaus, the legendary "rubber metropolis", capital of Amazonas state and now a busy free trade zone on the Rio Negro, which joins the Rio Solimões a little way downstream to form the Amazon proper, lies 1713km/1064mi by river west of Belém, in the heart of the tropical rain forest.
Teatro Amazonas
Teatro AmazonasThe city's most famous building is the Teatro Amazonas (opened 1896; now protected as a national monument) - an Italian Renaissance building in the heart of the primeval forest. Its 700 seats are covered in red velvet, the doorways are of Italian marble and the staircase of English wrought-iron. The theatre has 198 chandeliers, including 32 of Murano glass. The curtain depicts the junction of the Rio Negro and the Solimões to form the Amazon.The dome was originally faced with 36,000 tiles imported from Germany at the beginning of the 20th century.The theatre was restored between 1988 and 1990.
Cais Flutuante
Cais FlutuanteThe 1313m/1436yd long Cais Flutuante (Floating Quay) on the Rio Negro was built by British engineers.
Custom House
AlfândegaThe Alfândega (Custom House) was imported from Britain in prefabricated form and erected in Mamaus in 1902. Both are protected as national monuments.
Market Hall
Market HallThe Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market), also protected as a national monument, stands on the bank of the Rio Negro, between the Floating Quay and the Igarapé dos Educandos. With its iron framework, made in Gustave Eiffel's Paris workshop, and stained glass windows it is modeled on the old Halles in Paris.
Cathedral
CathedralSão SebastiãoThe Cathedral was built in 1875, the church of São Sebastião in 1859; the nave has paintings by Domenico de Angelis.
Palácio Rio Negro
Palácio Rio NegroThe handsome Palácio Rio Negro, once the residence of a German rubber merchant named Waldemar Scholtz, is now the seat of the State Government of Amazonas.
Reservatório de Mocó
Reservatório de MocóThe Reservatório de Mocó (Cotton Store: mocó is a species of cotton prized for its silky fibers) was the work of British builders (1899).
Museum of the Indian
Museum of the IndianThe Museu do Indio has a collection of over 3000 objects illustrating the culture and way of life of Indian tribes which live, or lived, on the upper course of the Rio Negro. Here too Indian craft products are on sale; they may also be bought in the FUNAI shop opposite the Amazonas Hotel.
Museum of Man of the North
Museu do Homem do NorteThe Museu do Homem do Norte (Museum of Man of the North), an ethnographic museum of northern Brazil has extensive collections of material on regional culture and folk traditions and a specialized bookshop. There are also rooms devoted to the display and sale of local craft products.
Free Trade Zone
Free trade zoneIn Manaus's free trade zone (zona franca) imported goods can be bought at favorable prices, though any purchases must be declared to customs at the airport or, for travelers sailing down the Amazon by boat, at Belém. Information about the type and quantity of goods which may be exported duty-free is displayed in notices at the airport.
Beaches
BeachesThe river beaches round Manaus should be visited between July and November, when the water level is low. The best known are the Praia da Ponta Negra (18km/11mi from the city on the Rio Negro) and the Praia do Tupé (1 hour from Manaus by boat), a nature reserve.
Zoo
Manaus Zoo, 13km/8mi from the city on the Estrada da Ponta Grande, contains 300 animals of the Amazon region.
Aeroporto Internacional Eduardo Gomes
The airport is located approximately 14 km (8 1/2 miles) from the city center.
Map of Manaus Attractions
Map - Manaus
