Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ilha de Itamaracá
q
Pernambuco.
*
16,000.
@
from
Recife.
The island of Itamaracá
played an important strategic
role during the Dutch interreg-
num in Brazil. In 1631, the
Dutch built the
Forte Orange
here, to protect their new
domain from invading forces.
The Portuguese destroyed the
Dutch-built adobe when they
took over in 1654. However,
the location was so unique
that the Portuguese created
a new fort in stone on the
site. During past renovations,
artifacts dating back to the
Dutch period were found.
Just across from the fort is
a small island, Coroa do
Avião, which has natural reef
pools. Boat tours to the island
leave from the beach in front
of the fort.
Itamaracá is also home
to the
Projeto Peixe Boi
, a
manatee research and rehab-
ilitation center. Manatees live
along the Brazilian coast from
Alagoas to Amapá, but are
threatened by loss of habitat,
as well as by speedboats and
their often-lethal outboard
propellers. Scientists estimate
that there are only around 400
animals in the wild along this
coast. The center works to
rehabilitate injured manatees,
and to study those that cannot
be released. A natural history
exhibit on the manatee is
offered along with a host of
interactive learning activities
for children. Visitors are only
allowed to observe those
animals that cannot be
Pottery on display at a craft shop in Caruaru
released into the wild.
The eastern part of Itamaracá,
with its lovely ocean beaches,
is also a popular weekend
destination.
P
Forte Orange
Estrada do Forte.
#
9am-5pm
Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm Sun.
&
O
Projeto Peixe Boi
Estrada do Forte Orange.
Tel
(081) 3544 1835.
#
10am-4pm Tue-Sun.
&
7
still specializes in producing
figurines.
Casa Museu Mestre
Vitalino
in Alto do Moura is
dedicated to this great artist,
and displays his tools and
some personal possessions.
Caruaru's open market is the
largest in the Northeast, and is
a very popular tourist
attraction. Besides figurines,
leather bags, straw baskets,
and ceramic pots are also
sold at some of the best prices
in Brazil. Apart from
a bustling market
scene, Caruaru,
known as the
capital of
forró
(see p236),
hosts
Brazil's largest
month-long
forró
festival. The
Museu
do Barro
pays
tribute to Luis
Gonzaga, the
father of
forró
music.
Caruaru
w
Pernambuco.
*
300,000.
@
from Recife.
_
Festa do Forró
(Jun-Jul).
www
.
caruaru.pe.gov.br
Located 100 miles (160 km)
on the mainland southwest of
Itamaracá, Caruaru is a market
town whose fame rests on its
marvelous ceramic
figurinhas
(figurines). Artist Vitalino
Perreira dos Santos (1909-63)
made many of these brightly
painted sculptures, and his
hometown, Alto de Moura, a
community of potters located 4
miles (6 km) west of Caruaru,
Figurine, Casa
Museu Mestre
Vitalino
Environs
Situated 17 miles (30 km)
northwest of Caruaru,
Nova Jerusalém
is an
intriguing re-creation of
Jerusalem. In the week before
Easter, thousands of people
flock to watch an epic
performance of the
Paixão
de Cristo
(
Passion of Christ
).
Local tour operators offer all-
inclusive packages to the
town and its annual play.
E
Casa Museu
Mestre Vitalino
Praça Cel. José de Vasconcelos 100,
Centro,Caruaru.
#
8am-5pm
Tue-Sat, 9am-1pm Sun.
E
Museu do Barro
Praça José de Vasconcelos.
Tel
(081) 3721 0012.
#
8am-5pm Tue-Sat,
9am-1pm Sun.
Rehabilitated manatees at the Projeto Peixe Boi, Ilha de Itamaracá
