What are the famous landmarks to visit in Manaus?
Manaus is the largest city in the Amazon Rainforest and part of Brazil’s Amazonia region. It is a bustling city with a vibrant nightlife and a variety of cultural experiences. There are plenty of interesting things to do and see in Manaus and its surrounding area, from opera houses, to regional food, and plenty of tourist attractions. Here is a list of some of the famous landmarks that are definitely worth checking out when visiting Manaus.
Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí
This large stadium is located in the center of Manaus and it is home to one of the most important festivities in the region – the Festa do Círio de Nazaré. Every second Sunday of October, thousands of people walk in a pilgrimage to honor Our Lady of Nazare. During the same day, the city’s elite parade in long carriages with models and dancers.
The sambadrome is also home of Manaus Stadium, a venue used for football (soccer) matches such as the Campeonato Amazonense and Copa do Brasil.
Teatro Amazonas
Teatro Amazonas is an opera house built at the end of the 19th century. It was funded by the rubber barons and built with materials that were imported from Europe. The theater was not only the result of great ambition, but also an answer to the need for cultural structures in Manaus. It has survived two centuries and it still stages operas, philharmonic concerts, occasional pop concerts and shows a traditional film festival every winter.
The theater’s external part stands as a symbol of Manaus’s richness during the rubber boom era. The building is decorated with local stones and its rooftop with 14-metre tall cupola is made with 365 pieces of tiles that have hand painted birds, plants and other symbols from the Amazon forest.
The Meeting of the Waters
The Meeting of the Waters is one of the most iconic attractions in Manaus, Brazil. It’s an incredible natural phenomena where three unique rivers, the Rio Negro, Solimões, and Urubu River converge.
The phenomenon occur due to differences in temperature, speed, depth and salinity levels, which give the rivers different colors and cause the dark waters of Rio Negro to stay separate from Solimões River until they reach a certain point in their journey downstream where they finally mix up together. Visitors can observe the different colors through boat tours that usually leave from Nautical Club of Manaus or they can take a day trip from Manaus and admire this natural wonder from upstream.
Adolpho Ducke Botanical Gardens
Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden is one of the main tourist attractions in Manaus. It was created in 1952 and it has a rich collection of plants from all around the country, with special focus on those from Amazonian Rainforest. The garden is composed by many different circuits, each showing a particular area and it includes an orchid garden, an arboretum and a lake.
Visitors can take guided tours with experts from the garden or they can explore it on their own and take in all the biodiversity that this place has to offer. There are even programs available for those who want to camp within the garden and get to know more about how people live off their land within this region of Brazil.
Ponta Negra beach
Ponta Negra Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Manaus due to its white sand and crystal-clear waters that make it an ideal choice for swimming and sunbathing. Walkers will also appreciate its beach front Boulevard which is popular for its many bars and restaurants, that offer an array of snacks and seafood dishes.
The beach is also home to many water-related activities such as jet-skiing, sailing and wakeboarding. If visitors want some peace and quiet, they can always head over to Ponta Negra’s sand dunes for a little relaxation time. The beach also offers plenty of opportunities for sightseeing all around its surroundings, plus some amazing little stores selling handicrafts made by local artisans.
Conclusion
Manaus has plenty to offer anyone who visits, from architectural gems like Teatro Amazonas to fantastic nature-based experiences like Ponta Negra Beach or The Meeting of the Waters. If you want to get an authentic experience while exploring the area you should definitely check out some of these amazing places! For further information about the history behind these landmarks Wikipedia provides an extensive overview about them.
