Its name - Alagoas - alludes to the tidal lagoons that can reach up to 15 kilometers on the coast. In recent decades, Alagoas has become one of Brazil’s most popular tourist destinations, largely due to its beautiful beaches, striking green coastal hills, and its beautiful capital, Maceio. Alagoas is ripe with political history, a land where war and peace has played out against one of the world’s most attractive backdrops.
Alagoas is the tourist destination where water abounds:
The sea with warm water, the rivers and the lagoons, which the state is named after, are al very appealing. After sampling the typical mollusk sururu and shopping for lace in the state capital of Maceió or at the north or south beaches, it is worth visiting the countryside in order to gain a little bit the history of Quilombo dos Palmares.
In the capital Maceió, leisure may start with a boat ride to the natural pools of Pajuçara. Fishing boats leave by the dozens during low tide Once the boats reach the reefs, they become bars, supplied with beer, caipirinhas (a cocktail mix of lime and cachaça) and appetizers for the breaks between the dives, fish of all colors may be observed.
Northward, the beaches are Sete Coqueiros (well-known for a lively craft market); Ponta Verde, with infrastructure for lodging and boarding, a cycling road, and its tranquil green waters; and Jatiúca, with a rougher sea and coconut trees. Cruz das Almas, Pontal da Barra and Sobral beaches are the favorite sites for surfers.
Pratagy and Ipioca are great options, slightly farther to the north. The former is known as Mirante da Sereia (reference to a vantagepoint of the region), where rocks form a bay used as a pool. Ipioca, a village home to Marshal Floriano Peixoto, the second president of Brazil, is a white sandy beach adorned with coconut trees.
The lagoons after which the state was named after are especially appealing. The greatest and most important ones are Mundaú and Manguaba, very near the capital. They are havens of tranquility, surrounded by fishermen villages and lace-makers who guarantee food and shopping. Bars and restaurants serve crab, shrimp, oyster, carapeba, cumurim and sururu, among other fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Women sell their lace and embroidery work: file, labirinto, boa-noite, and renascença. The lagoons are linked by channels which may be traversed by boats along isles, villages and mangroves. At dusk, the sunlight is reflected over the water.
Walking in the city center brings great surprises. Starting from the buildings at Praça Deodoro (Teatro Deodoro, Alagoa’s Literature Academy and Tribunal de Justiça. The localcourt), Then on to Praça D. Pedro II (the Library and the Public Archive - former Palácio Barão de Jaraguá, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Legislative Assembly), and finally the Praça dos Martírios (Palácio do Governo, Church of Born Jesus dos Martírios, and the Pierre Chalita Foundation). The Museum of this foundation exhibits pieces of sacred northeastern art, ceramics, silver work, furniture, drawings and paintings. Museum Théo Brandão has objects from several countries including Portugal, Spain and Mexico, in addition to ceramics from Ceará, dolls by Mestre Vitalino and vote-offering from Alagoas.
The sunny adventure in Alagoas starts in the south with the Mandaú/Manguaba complex. Bounded by these lagoons, Marechal Deodoro is the birthplace of the man who proclaimed the Republic (Deodoro da Fonseca, whom the city is named after). The town, declared historical heritage for its buildings, museums, churches and convents, has the most famous beach of the state: the Praia do Frances, which offers comfortable hotels and hostels. The beach is equipped with beach umbrellas and chairs, plus fresh water showers. The turquoise water is crystalline and offers choices not only for surfers but also for bathers.
Roteiro is known mainly for its Cunga beach, a white sandy peninsula that gathers waters from the ocean and those from the São Miguel River. Water sports practitioners come to the spot by sail or motor boats. Lagoons such as the jequiã surround Couripe, and its main attractions are the lighthouse and the natural pool, in addition to the beaches of Miaí de Baixo and Miaí de Cima, almost always deserted, with high waves. Penedo. At the very south, is surrounded by culture and history, besides the irresistible ride on the São Francisco River. The settling of the town represented French conquest in 1535. Alagoas would be occupied by the Dutch later in the 17th century and subordinated to Pernambuco at the beginning of the 18th century. It was not until 1817 that the state conquered its independence.
Up north, Pariqueira offers options for different tastes: Costa Brava (a wild beach) and Sonho Verde with reefs and pools. The city, which created a park for the preservation of the endangered manatee, has the best Carnival in the state, in addition to the feast of the Patron Saint Amaro in January. Passo de Camaragibe stands out for its diversity of ecosystems - rivers, lagoons, mangroves, and an exuberant ocean with wonderful cliffs. São Miguel dos Milagres is in turn a one- day trip for a splash and a drink at the bars of Porto da Rua.
Settled by the Portuguese in 1575 and the site of battles against the Dutch invaders, Porto Calvo has beautiful monuments such as the Mother Church, declared a historical heritage. From Porto das Pedras to Japaratinga, it is a must to cross the Manguaba River by boat or raft to appreciate mangroves, coconut trees and quaint houses. In Porto, the peaceful beaches appeal to youngsters who gather at the lighthouse for amazing scenery at sunset.
The countryside of Alagoas is beginning to be explored: museums, events, tributes to Zumbi and the beauties of the Atlantic rain forest. The second largest city of the state, Arapiraca appeals to visitors who search for feasts such as that of Our Lady of Born Conselho, the off-season Carnival and the June parties. Murici has the greatest continuous portion of Atlantic rain forest in the Northeast: several types of birds or even mammals such as water cavies, tapirs and armadillos may accompany bathing at the waterfalls. From the top of the mountains hang-gliders come down.
A charming town inhabited by the Cariri and Xurucu Indians in the 17th century is a gateway to the sertão (the hinterlands) of the state. Palmeira dos índios is at the top a 300 meter high mount - it is worth going up the Cristo do Goioti’s 980 meter long cable car (second longest in the country after that of the Sugar Loaf in Rio). The city preserves the house of former mayor and writer Graciliano Ramos, one of the most famous sons of Alagoas. Even his bureaucratic writings were true pieces of art.
If history is the subject, União dos Palmares tells of the fantastic resistance of the independent republic which gathered 30 thousand run-away slaves. Serra da Barriga is home to the Zumbi National Park and the statue that pays tribute to the warrior leader of Quilombo dos Palmares. From the top of the mountain, where remainders of ceramics made by Indians and Negros may be found, visitors may sight valleys covered by sugarcane and manioc plantation and royal palms.
Rivers, lagoons and the ocean are in charge of supplying the table with the essential ingredient for a leisurely vacation: food. Some of the most typical dishes are prepared with the mollusk sururu, which is served in its shell (called capote), with coconut milk or vinaigrette, not to mention the fresh and salt-water fish, shrimp, and crabs. As far as pork and beef, cooks give special at1ention to preparing feijoada, a black beans and pork meal, buchada, a dish made of animal guts, and stews. Breakfast and dinner include delicacies like rice pudding, corn cake, pé-de-rnoleque, canjica and pamonha, sweets made of peanuts, corn and tapioca, a heritage from the Indians. Sugarcane juice, pineapple cocktails and seafood broths are served on the beach.
Like the entire Northeast, in Alagoas the tourist will have no trouble leaving the beach in order to go shopping for crafts. In addition to the open air market at Ponto da Barra, handicrafts may be found in the capital at Pajuçara and at the Mercado do Artesanato at Levada. Handed down from mother to daughter, lace and embroidery yield bed covers, sheets, towels, table covers, and even bride’s gowns. On the southern coast of the state, artisans are especially skilled at braiding a type of straw called ouricuri producing baskets and purses.
The tourist can have lots of fun in Alagoas with feasts like the quadrilha (dance of French origin) and the coco-de-roda, originally danced at spiritist cerimonies. Fife bands play at different events and are also known as esquenta muié. Religious feasts can be witnessed such as Maré dos Rosários and Bandos. At Christmas, visitors can participate in festivities like Guerreiro, Marujada, and Reisado, while during Carnival they will be entertained by Negra da Costa, Matuto and many others.