City of Maceió

Maceió

The first thing one notices about Maceió is the sea color variation – sometimes green, sometimes blue – and the Sun, present almost all year round, which results in constantly warm waters. The origin of its name is indigenous and means the place of "Maçayó", which in turn means Flooded Land.

Historians claim that the capital of Alagoas was originated from an old sugar plantation, around the 18th century. Others believe that, for it being a coastal city, its origin would be a small fishing village. The city stands out economically for the fishing of fish and crustaceans and for the importance of sugar, a product responsible for most of the activity in Maceió Harbor, which makes it the largest sugar terminal in the world.

Maceió has a developed tourist infrastructure with hotels of various categories, inns and hostels, most of them near the beaches. In the Pajuçara, Ponta Verde and Jatiúca beaches, there are restaurants and kiosks on the promenade (many with live music) that serve seafood based dishes. One of the local delicacies is sururu, a seafood characteristic of the region that deserves to be appreciated.

In the late afternoon, the promenade becomes a perfect walkway for the practice of physical activities or simply for enjoying the Sunset.

The local culture is expressive and memorable, especially for its rich folklore, in addition to its internationally known artists, writers and musicians, such as the singer Djavan. Among the folkloric demonstrations there are festivals such as Carvalhada, Bumba Meu Boi and Reisado. The crafts are represented by renda filé (a type of lace that is typical of the region) and ceramics, and enchant all for their originality and beauty.

Praia do Francês, 20 km from the center of Maceió, is one of the most beautiful in Brazil, with waters protected by a wall of reefs which causes them to remain calm and crystal clear.

It is also possible to visit beaches farther north, like Mirante da Sereia, Riacho Doce, Garça Torta and Guaxuma.