Aquiraz is the thirteenth largest city in the state of

Ceará Ceará (, pronounced locally as or ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is the eighth-largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the ...

and is located on the nation's northeast coast. The municipality has a population of 80,935 with a population density of 150 inhabitants per square kilometer. Aquiraz is located from the state capital of Ceará,

Fortaleza Fortaleza (, locally , Portuguese for ''Fortress'') is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. It belongs to the Metropolitan mesoregion of Fortaleza and microregion of Fortaleza. It is Brazil's 5th largest city and the t ...

. It borders the municipalities of

Maranguape Maranguape is a municipality in Ceará with a population of 130,346 (2020). The community was founded in 1851. It is part of the Fortaleza metropolitan area. Notable natives * Capistrano de Abreu - Brazilian historian. * Chico Anysio - Brazilia ...

, Caucaia, Pacatuba, Guaiuba, and Maracanau; the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

makes up its northeast border. The

Pacoti Pacoti is a municipality in the state of Ceará Ceará (, pronounced locally as or ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is the eighth-largest Brazilian State by pop ...

and Catu rivers cross Aquiraz and empty into the ocean. Tourism is the main economic base of Aquiraz. Ceramic material are also produced in the town.

History

Aquiraz was the first village of the Captaincy, and originally simply named the Vila da Capitania do Ceará (Town of the Captaincy of Ceará). It was elevated to village level on 30 February 1699, and to city status on 27 December 1938. In the eighteenth century the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

did notable work in the area. Aquiraz also served as the seat-city of

before

Batoque Extractive Reserve

The municipality contains the Batoque Extractive Reserve, created in 2003.

Protected sites

Meat Market of Aquiraz

The Meat Market of Aquiraz dates to the 19th century and is built from local materials. The historian Clóvis Ramiro Jucá Neto called the market "one of the most important works of traditional architecture in Brazil." The market has a simple rectangular floor plan. The woodwork is of carnaúba palm (''

Copernicia prunifera ''Copernicia prunifera'' or the carnaúba palm or carnaubeira palm () is a species of palm tree native to northeastern Brazil (mainly the states of Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia). Known by many as 'tree of life' beca ...

''). A single story roof is supported by a central brick column. The market became a protected structure by IPHAN in 1981.

Casa de Câmara e Cadeia de Aquiraz

The former Casa de Câmara e Cadeia de Aquiraz (Town Hall and Jail of Aquiraz) was built in two distinct stages: the first floor was built in the 18th century, and the second in 1877. The building was adapted into a sacred art museum in 1967 called the São José de Ribamar Museum of Sacred Art (Museu Sacro São José de Ribamar). It was closed for renovation in 1978 but reopened in 1980. The museum collection consists of approximately 640 pieces of sacred art. They include carved wooden images and silver objects dating to the 18th century.

Parish Church of Saint Joseph of Ribamar

The Parish Church of Saint Joseph of Ribamar (Igreja Matriz de São José do Ribamar) is located on Praça da Matriz and dates to the 18th century. The parish church is in a simple style with little adornment. The side of the church, unusually, faces the square, not the church façade. The ceiling of the chancel features scenes of the life of Saint Joseph. The structure has a large churchyard and with a low wall and cross.

Notable people

* Ana Miranda – Poet who currently resides in Aquiraz. *

Valentina Sampaio Valentina Sampaio (born 10 December 1996) is a Brazilian model and actress. She became Victoria's Secret's first openly transgender model in August 2019, and became the ''Sports Illustrated'' Swimsuit Issue's first openly transgender model in 2 ...

– Model and actress who was born in Aquiraz.

Twin towns – sister cities

Aquiraz is twinned with: * Frederick,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

* São Vicente,

Barlavento Islands The Barlavento Islands ( Portuguese: ''Ilhas de Barlavento'', literally, the ''Windward Islands'') is the northern group of the Cape Verde archipelago.Cape Verde , national_anthem = () , official_languages = Portuguese , national_languages = Cape Verdean Creole , capital = Praia , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , demonym ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control Populated coastal places in Ceará Populated places established in 1713 Municipalities in Ceará 1713 establishments in the Portuguese Empire