Fortaleza Shopping and Districts

(Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil)

Shopping in Fortaleza is excellent and many fine handicrafts created throughout the state of Ceará can be found all over the city. Some of the most popular gift ideas available are made with beautiful traditional lacework, which is known to have Portuguese origins.

Those shopping for souvenirs in Fortaleza will often find handicrafts created by local Brazilian artisans, simply made out of bamboo, vines and carnauba palm fronds. Also popular are leather goods, sandals, ceramics, hammocks, woven baskets, textiles, sunglasses, cheap clothing, and of course, colourful beachwear.

Where to Shop

Quality souvenirs are readily available at the state-run Ceart (Centro de Artesanato do Ceará) stores, which are scattered around the city of Fortaleza and located on streets such as the Avenida Monsenhor Tabosa and the Avenida Santos Dumont. On the Rua Senador Pompeu, many stalls are based at the Centro du Turismo and this is an especially good place to purchase fine lace and embroidery. Tourists are usually able to see the lacemakers hard at work here, creating their intricate masterpieces.

Next to the Praia do Meireles, Fortaleza's enticing Feira de Artesanato is a huge outdoor craft fair and opens every afternoon, between the hours of 16:00 until 22:00. This fair is frequently bustling with crowds and those shopping at the Feira de Artesanato often leave with a T-shirt or two, and perhaps an example of some true Brazilian artistry.

Located on the Avenida Alberto Nepomuceno, the Mercado Central is an important part of the shopping scene in Fortaleza and with in excess of 500 different market stalls, you really will be spoilt for choice. Look out for bottles of locally produced 'cravinho cachaca' (white spirit made with sugarcane). Other popular Fortaleza markets include both the Feirinha da Beira Mar next to the beachfront, and the Mercado dos Pinhoes on the Praca Visconde de Pelotas (close to the Rua Monsenhor Tabosa).

If you prefer modern shopping malls, then Fortaleza certainly won't disappoint. Notable choices often feature their own cinema complexes and food court area, and come in the form of Shopping Aldeota / Pátio Dom Luis on the Avenida Dom Luis, Iguatemi on the Avenida Washington Soares, Lojas Americanas Del Paseo on the Avenida Santos Dumont, and North Shopping on the Avenida Bezerra de Meneses.