ABOUT BELÉM: A BRIEF STORY OF A METROPOLIS IN THE AMAZON

Belém is the capital of Pará, one of the seven states of northern Brazil. The city is known for its outstanding gastronomy, the distinct landscape of the ancient constructions by the Guajará Bay, the faith in Our Lady of Nazaré, and for being a metropolis in the Amazon rainforest.

With a population of 1,303,389 people, Belém is the gateway to the Amazon and a dynamic metropolis that welcomes visitors from all over the world. The city is currently in the spotlight of global discussions about climate change, since it has been officially announced as the venue for COP30 in 2025.

Foundation

Belém was officially founded on January 12th, 1616, by Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco. The foundations of the city were laid in the place now called Forte do Castelo. A settlement began to form around the fort, which was then called Feliz Lusitânia (Happy Lusitania), under the invocation of Our Lady of Belém. During this period, wars occurred as a result of the colonization process through the enslavement of the Tupinambá and Pacajá indigenous tribes and the invasion by the Dutch, English, and French. When the Portuguese won the battles against the invaders, the city lost its name of Feliz Lusitânia and became Nossa Senhora de Belém do Grão Pará.

In 1650, the first streets were opened, all parallel to the river. In the 18th century, the city began to move towards the forest, gaining distance from the coast. Belém became not only a point of defense but also a center for penetrating the interior and conquering the Amazon.

Belle Époque

The city experienced years of prosperity during the period from 1840 to 1910, due to its leading role in the manufacture of rubber, known as the Belle Époque. Under the influence of the period, Belém received architectural constructions inspired by Paris, France. For this reason, it is still possible to find cobbled streets, granite imported from Europe, public buildings and mansions, as well as monuments and squares dating from the period. In the 1920s, the rubber boom came to an end, but the city that had been built up over the centuries remained under new conditions and with different characteristics.

Nowadays

Today, despite being cosmopolitan and modern in many aspects, Belém has not lost the traditional look of its colonial mansions, churches, and chapels. Its history is told through important monuments, parks, and museums, such as the Theatro da Paz, the Emílio Goeldi Museum, the Mangal das Garças park, the Estação das Docas, the Basílica de Nazaré, the Ver-o-Peso market, the Feliz Lusitânia complex, and high-profile events such as the Círio de Nazaré.

The 9th International Barcode of Life Conference will be held at a privileged location in Belém: the Maria Sylvia Nunes Theater, which is part of the Estação das Docas, one of the city's most famous landmarks.