2023-10-10 / Brasil / 60 photos

Manaus

After five days traveling by boat from the Colombian border, I finally arrived in Manaus, the Amazon’s capital—a city nestled in the rainforest that blends European elegance with jungle wilderness. Historically, Manaus was once considered the richest city globally during the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, using its wealth to import goods and cultural influences directly from Europe.

Teatro Amazonas and Colonial Architecture

Exterior view of the pink Teatro Amazonas opera house in Manaus with its signature yellow, green, and blue tiled dome
The symbol of the city is the Teatro Amazonas, a stunning opera house constructed with materials sourced from all over the world—marble from Italy, steel from Scotland, and a mosaic dome that displays the colors of the Brazilian flag.
A detailed close-up of the top of the Monument to the Opening of the Ports (Monumento à Abertura dos Portos), featuring allegorical bronze sculptures
Monument to the Opening of the Ports (Monumento à Abertura dos Portos)
The iconic Teatro Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil
The historic Church of São Sebastião (Igreja de São Sebastião) and the Monument to the Opening of the Ports located in the main square.
A street view of the side façade of the Church of São Sebastião, showing the busy daily life in the center of Manaus
Church of São Sebastião
A beautifully restored colonial mansion with a vibrant orange and cream facade in the historic center of Manaus
A beautifully restored colonial mansion with a vibrant orange and cream facade located in the historic center of Manaus.
The historic Customs House (Alfândega), a unique building constructed with pre-fabricated blocks imported from England in the early 20th century
The historic Customs House (Alfândega) is a unique building built with pre-fabricated blocks imported from England in the early 20th century.
The majestic facade of the Palacete Provincial, a historic building painted in terracotta and yellow, formerly used as the police headquarters
The majestic facade of the Palacete Provincial, a historic building painted in terracotta and yellow, was once used as the police headquarters.
The historic Municipal Clock (Relógio Municipal), a city landmark located in the downtown area, surrounded by old port architecture
The historic Municipal Clock (Relógio Municipal) is a city landmark located in the downtown area, surrounded by old port architecture.
The imposing Metropolitan Cathedral of Manaus (Catedral Metropolitana), featuring a neoclassical design and standing atop a small hill near the port
Metropolitan Cathedral of Manaus (Catedral Metropolitana)
The historic Ginásio Amazonense, often called the Palace of Instruction
Walking through Largo de São Sebastião square, you can observe the impressive Ginásio Amazonense (Palace of Instruction).
A row of charming, colorful colonial buildings with restored facades in blue, yellow, and red hues
The elegant interior of a historic palace hall, featuring a long wooden conference table, period furniture, and high ceilings
Inside Museu da Cidade de Manaus

Street Life and Colorful Street Art

Manaus has a mix of old and new architecture, with modern buildings alongside colonial houses. The lively streets are full of energy, with busy markets selling traditional Guaraná drinks and the unique taste of natural Açaí, exclusive to the Amazon region.

A shaded sidewalk in Manaus featuring a vibrant graffiti mural of a blue cat painted on a weathered wall
A typical urban scene in Manaus showing parked motorcycles and a street vendor stall selling traditional Guaraná
A vibrant street art mural depicting Frida Kahlo with the Portuguese quote 'Onde não puder amar, não se demore' (Where you cannot love, do not delay)
A mural showing Frida Kahlo with the Portuguese quote (Where you cannot love, do not delay).
A close-up look at the urban texture of Manaus: a chaotic tangle of overhead electrical wires in front of an old, weathered building facade
A street scene in Manaus featuring a large, colorful mural on a building facade, highlighting the city's urban art and tropical atmosphere
A massive, colorful mural of a jaguar painted on the side of a high-rise building, towering over the streets of Manaus
A perspective view of a busy downtown avenue in Manaus lined with trees, shops, and motorcycles
Locals enjoying a game of checkers on a stone bench under the shade of trees in a public square in Manaus
A scenic view of Largo de São Sebastião, showcasing the contrast between historic colonial houses and modern high-rise buildings in downtown Manaus
The urban landscape of Manaus, featuring a mix of modernist white commercial buildings and colorful street art in the background
A narrow, busy street in the commercial district, cluttered with overhead wires and bustling with daily activity
An extreme close-up of a utility pole covered in a chaotic, dense tangle of electrical and telecommunication wires
God bless local electricians!
A sunny day at a public square in Manaus, showing a mix of trees, parking areas, and colorful modern apartment buildings
A narrow, vibrant shopping street in Manaus filled with pedestrians, shops, and a web of overhead utility cables
A typical Brazilian newsstand (banca de jornal) located on a sunny sidewalk in the heart of the city
A rustic wooden footbridge crossing a green canal in a quiet, leafy urban park in Manaus
A crowded street market scene filled with blue stalls and vendors selling affordable goods and clothing
A tall apartment building in the city center adorned with a large vertical mural, showcasing the city's embrace of street art
A bustling scene at a commercial hub in Manaus, with street vendors setting up below a curved Art Deco-style building
An ornate, cast-iron fountain located in Praça Heliodoro Balbi (also known as Praça da Polícia), a peaceful green spot in the city
A cast-iron fountain situated in Praça Heliodoro Balbi, also called Praça da Polícia.
A busy street intersection in downtown Manaus featuring a distinctive green commercial building and daily traffic
A street corner scene capturing the essence of the city: street vendors, tangled wires, and a large mural on the wall
A large corner building with Art Deco influences, showing the bustling commercial side of Manaus streets
Art Deco in the city
A sunny, paved open square in the downtown area, featuring pedestrians and a striking blue modern building in the background
A tranquil view of the iron bandstand (gazebo) nestled among the trees in the historic Praça Heliodoro Balbi
The Praça Heliodoro Balbi
A charming row of restored colonial houses featuring bright yellow, white, and green facades in the historic district
The next day in the city was quite foggy due to nearby fires
A peaceful view of a green cast-iron fountain surrounded by trees and benches in a public square (Praça da Polícia)
The ruins of an abandoned historic building being reclaimed by nature, with trees and vines growing through the crumbling walls
A green cast-iron fountain and a traditional bandstand (gazebo) surrounded by trees
Praça Dom Pedro II
A view of stilt houses (palafitas) along a dried riverbed near a concrete bridge, highlighting the social contrasts of the city
A view of the riverside promenade with a wooden gazebo, looking out towards the hazy horizon during the dry season
Black River Park (Parque Rio Negro)
A view of the historic industrial waterfront, featuring an old factory building with a smokestack against a hazy sky
Antiga Cervejaria Miranda Corrêa, da Amazônia

Diving to Amazonian flora at the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve

Just a short drive from the city’s center by bus or taxi, you will find the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve. This large, protected area is a part of the untouched Amazon rainforest. For around R$ 40, you can see massive tree trunks, twisting vines, and the complex root systems of tropical plants.

Golden sunlight filtering through the dense canopy, illuminating the forest floor and undergrowth
A close-up detail of a pink flower bud and the edge of a giant Victoria Amazonica lily pad floating in a pond
A detailed shot of a large, textured palm leaf, highlighting the geometric patterns of nature in the jungle
A pond covered in duckweed and populated by the giant leaves of the Victoria Amazonica, the iconic water lily of the Amazon
A sandy hiking trail winding through the tall trees and dense vegetation of the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve
A vivid close-up of a red exotic bromeliad flower blooming in the wild rainforest
A bromeliad flower
A close-up of a massive tree trunk covered in vines and moss, showcasing the scale of the Amazonian flora in the Adolfo Ducke Reserve
A macro view of the forest floor, featuring vibrant green ferns contrasting with fallen dry leaves
A glimpse into the dense undergrowth of the Amazon rainforest, filled with hanging vines and lush vegetation
The intricate, exposed root system of a tropical palm tree extending into the leaf-covered forest floor
A breathtaking panoramic view of the endless Amazon rainforest canopy stretching towards the horizon
Lush ferns and vegetation growing at the waters edge in a swampy area of the botanical reserve
Immersive view of the dense, tangled greenery characteristic of the primary rainforest near Manaus
A dramatic close-up of a tropical tree trunk covered in sharp, defensive thorns, characteristic of the unique flora of the Amazon rainforest
A wide, sandy walking trail cutting through the towering trees of the Adolfo Ducke Forest Reserve

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