In the early hours of the morning, the quays of the port are alive with the comings and goings of fishermen laden with the day's catch, which will end up on the stalls of the Mercado Bolonha – also called Mercado Ver-o-Peso after the fish – a superb ..

The açaí market is held at the foot of the fort. This small black fruit is renowned for being rich in vitamin B1, magnesium and iron. It is so nourishing that it is a staple of the inhabitants of the Amazon, who consume it in juice or sorbet form. ..

Here, too, one can see the inspiration – and materials – of the greatest European theatres! The Teatro da Paz has a history comparable to that of the Teatro Amazonas de Manaus… only 20 years behind, 20 years that saw Belém and its inhabitants deprive..

Opposite the Mercado Ver-o-Peso, on the other side of the street, housed beneath a wrought iron frame, is the Mercado de Carne. The market was opened in 1907 and today you can still see the butchers cutting up their meat throughout the day, among the..

The Palácio Antonio Lemos, a palace built in the second half of the 19C, during the rubber boom, houses Belém's Town Hall, as well as the Museu do Arte of Belém, where you can admire an eclectic exhibition of furniture and works of art from the 19C a..

The Forte do Castelo was the first building constructed by Castello Branco when the city was founded, and there is a magnificent view from its walls over the river and Ver-o-Peso Market. Inside is an exhibition on the region's Amerindian ethnic group..

Even if all the original furniture has been removed, the Palacete Bolonha is worth visiting as it is a fine example of the architectural madness that Belém experienced in the 1900s. It was built by owner Francisco Bolonha, son of a rich rubber-indust..

The Museu Emílio Goeldi is a zoological garden that was founded in 1866 by a group of naturalists, and boasts a miniature vision of the Amazon rainforest right in the middle of Belém. You can see over 2 000 plant species and animals that are sometime..

Installed in a former convent, this cultural centre dedicated to the minerals of Pará has a fascinating Gem Museum and a charitable association selling local crafts. An extraordinary 2.5t quartz crystal that was found in the Rio Araguaia presides..

The Jesuits built Santo Alexandre College near the fort shortly after Belém was founded, and the building later became an Episcopal palace. Nowadays, it houses the Museum of Sacred Art. The tour starts with the splendid and resolutely Baroque Santo ..

Originally a simple wooden hut erected in the middle of the fort in Belém's early days, the cathedral was reconstructed in 1755 by the Italian architect Antônio Landi in a blend of neo-Classical and Baroque-colonial styles. This is the starting point..

As you head up the Rio Guamá, which meets the Amazon Delta precisely at Belém, you will navigate your way around a labyrinth of islands. The landscape is one of mangrove and flooded jungle, and is home to the Caboclos , mixed race European-Amerindia..