Discover everything that São Luís has to offer, between historical places, culture, celebrations, beaches, gastronomy and the city
São Luís is an island and the capital of the state of Maranhão, located in the northeast of Brazil. Founded 410 years ago by the French Daniel de La Touche and François de Rasilly and colonized by the Portuguese. In etymology, São Luís owes its name to the French king Luis XIII.
The metropolitan region is composed of 13 cities and 4 cities form the São Luís Tourist Pole, they are: Alcântara, Paço do Lumiar, Raposa and São José do Ribamar.
The sea has shades of yellow topaz and sometimes shades of jade, the annual temperature is 28°C, there is sun and heat all year round.
São Luís has good winds, and they attract windsurfers and kitesurfers, and it also has a beautiful sunset that can be seen at the Espigão da Ponta d’Areia.
For those who travel looking for a gastronomic tour, the capital of Maranhão offers everything, from the land (meat and fruit) and from the sea (fish and shellfish).
It takes between 4 and 5 days to enjoy part of what the city has to offer.
Historical places
Tile was created by the Egyptians and brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Arabs. The Portuguese made it more sophisticated and turned it into a symbol of their culture and that of the countries they colonized. The 18th and 19th century mansions in downtown São Luís have their facades covered in Portuguese tiles, which is why São Luís is also known as the “City of Tiles”. In 1997, it also became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Between the slopes, the sea, it is possible to walk on the Portuguese stones that make up the floor of the Historic Center of São Luís and visit the Mirante da Cidade, the Palácio dos Leões, the Artur Azevedo Theater, the Museu das Artes Visual, the Convento das Mercês, the Museu do Reggae Maranhão, the Museu do Negro, the Museu da Gastronomia, the Casa do Maranhão, the Museu de Arte Sacra, the Museu Histórico, the Beco Catarina Mina and the Central Market.
Culture
The old village of Upaon-Açu (São Luís), once inhabited by Tupinambá Indians, today also has African culture very much in mind. With various manifestations not only in religion, but also in folklore, customs and culture. Upaon-Açu is today the name of the island where São Luís is located and which forms the Golfão Maranhense archipelago.
The Criola Drum is a circular dance, with sounds of drums and percussion played by men and swayed by women in their white lace blouses and chitão skirts with large colored prints, which give movement to the African tradition that Maranhão has incorporated.
The Bumba meu boi, from the legend a large number of groups of Bumba meu boi were born, each one with its accents, music, dances and costumes, but the boi always present, as well as the rattle. The members are a real family, the kids start the practice early on, rehearse, produce music, choreograph, costume and put on great shows, there are demos and performances throughout the year.
Once upon a time a pregnant African slave -Catirina- who wanted to eat ox tongue, made her husband – Pai Francisco – kill the farmer’s favorite ox to make it succumb to his desire, and then, to save the couple’s own life, Pai Francisco tried to revive him with the help of shamans. This is a brief summary, but there are several theories about the origin.
Since 2019, the Bumba meu Boi has held the title of Cultural Heritage of Humanity, granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Festa Juninas or São João
The Arraial of Maria Aragão Square, promoted by the city of São Luís, launched this year the Tourist Box, which is a small house decorated with cheetah (traditional Portuguese cotton fabric), Instagrammable, with the aim of promoting local food brands and crafts.
Arraial Maria Aragão had five stages: National Show Stage, Local Show Stage, City Stage, Reggae Space and Forró Barracão.
The restaurants of the party had the format of a house covered with Chita (traditional Portuguese cotton fabric), the tables were outdoors with views of the City Stage (Folkloric Groups).
The ABRASEL tent of Maranhão (Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants of Maranhão), had meals from Maranhão such as Cuxá rice with shrimp, Cuxá farofa, shrimp cake, yellow hake moqueca, breaded shrimp, white canjica, among other foods typical of the São João festivities.
Setur São Luís, together with the Women’s Coordinator and the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, launched a campaign in this São João, which is the time of year when the city receives more tourists, Free Tourism, to combat the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, violence against women and human trafficking.
The festivities at Praça Maria do Aragão ended on the last day 30, but tourists who want to enjoy São João in São Luís just have to plan for 2024.
Quilombo Cultural Route São Luís
Quilombo was the resistance of liberated Africans in the Americas, in São Luís since 2021, the municipal secretary of tourism – Saulo Santos, created the Roteiro Quilombo Cultural São Luís, a project that began in the Liberdade neighborhood and should be extended to other quilombos .
The itinerary has 10 locations: Mercado Municipal da Liberdade, Terreiro Ylé Ashé Oba Yzôo, Bloco Tradicional Os Indomáveis Show, Bumba Meu Boi da Floresta, Terreiro Ilé Ashé Ogum Sogbô, Bloco Afro Abiyeyé Maylô, Tambor de Crioula Maracrioula, Bumba Meu Boi de Leonardo , Production company Novo Quilombo – Reggae and Bloco Afro Netos de Naná. You need at least 3 days to visit all the sites.
It is an immersion in the culture of Maranhão, one morning it was possible to meet the Produtora Novo Quilombo – Reggae , Terreiro YLê Axé Ogum SOGBÔ and Bumba Boi da Floresta. Some of the musical influences, such as the reggae that reached São Luís through the radio waves, the religion of the Tambor de Minas, and the folklore of Bumba meu boi, from African, European and Brazilian history, customs, roots until knowing a little about the making of the costumes, trying and experimenting with the drums.
Gastronomy
Ludovician gastronomy has the influence of the Tupinambá Indians (fishermen), the French, Portuguese, Africans and Brazilian nature, as the local fruits that are inserted in the dishes: juçara (Maranhão açaí), cupuaçu, bacuri, pitomba , sapoti, buriti, seriguela, jambo, murici and box, are very tasty fruits and many become gelatine, and with the fibers and leaves, handicrafts, such as the buriti.
Itália Wine Bar, it is located on Avenida São Marcos in Ponta D’areia, it has bungalow facilities with sofas and armchairs on the beach, either for lunch or a happy hour the place is very nice, the mixologist is Bruno Andrade and brings a menu with some author and other classics. Alex Nogueira commands the kitchen, which has Italian dishes like pizza, pasta, and risottos. There are diversified options and preparations of fish and shellfish. The Panelinha of octopus and squid, and the Patinha of crab à Milanese stand out.
Barraca da Marcela, located among many other tents on the seafront, but it only has straws on the main façade. It is a large restaurant, very structured, with one part facing Avenida Litorânea and the other facing Praia de São Marcos. Chef Tarcísio Gentil has exemplary recipes and execution, with a refined seasoning. On the menu: fish, prawns and lobster. The hake fillet with pickled sauce and prawn sauce stands out, an unforgettable type of dish.
Feijão de Cordas is a classic at its best “sertão nordestino” style, located in the São Luís Historic Center overlooking the sea and in operation since 2007. In the restaurant there are dishes with fish and shrimp, but the theme asks for meat of the sun, farofa, coalho cheese, fried cassava. The kitchen is under the direction of chef Danilo Diaz. Highlights the northeastern Frigideira.
Senac Restaurant is well known by those who visit and live in São Luís, it offers a buffet with experimental cuisine, out of the ordinary, more elaborate dishes, developed by chef Samuel Mendes, and prepared by students. Senac trains 30 full-time chefs every 360 hours, and 30 waiters every 280 full-time hours. The course is free. Thus supplying the gastronomic market of Maranhão.
Metropolitan region
Raposa is 25 km from São Luís, the trip continues by boat to visit the mangroves, the dunes of the Fronhas Maranhenses, and the Currais beach, the sea water seems heated so hot. Tia Tereza Restaurant on Raposa beach has the tastiest fish in the city, around the corner local crafts – embroidery and straw fibers.
São José do Ribamar is 27 km from São Luís, deserves a visit and is full of history, mostly cataloged by the historian Antônio Miranda. Among the places of interest: Parroquia y Santuario São José or Ribamar, Acoustic Shell, Monumento de São José, the beach of Ponta Verde which is paradisiacal and the Recanto da tia Julia it is possible to have a panoramic view of the beach.
Source: Mary de Aquino.
Leave feedback about this