Discover Porto Velho

Porto Velho was explored in the early 19th century for the construction of the Madeira-Mamoré Railway. This endeavor gave a unique biography to the capital of Rondônia and mixed cultures. The city that emerged at the beginning of the century is located in the Amazon River basin. The place is pure green.The museum that narrates this epic has become one of the most visited spots. Built in 1949, the neocolonial architecture building served as the state government headquarters and was known as the Getúlio Vargas Presidential Palace. Currently, after revitalization, it has become the Rondonian Memory Palace Museum.Surrounded by forests on the banks of the Madeira River, Porto Velho has rich biodiversity and hides natural paradises. The Cuniã Lake Extractive Reserve is dedicated to the preservation of fauna and flora, the reproduction of aquatic life, such as the pirarucu (one of the largest freshwater fish in the world), and the management of the population of the açu and jacaretinga alligators. The reserve also houses riverside communities. Surrounded by igapós (vegetation that grows in water) and igarapés (small streams that cut through the forest), it is ideal for birdwatching. Visits are accompanied by monitors from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and authorization from the institute is required to enter the area.Through the city center, tourists can visit the Praça das 3 Caixas d’água where the reservoirs that supplied the city until 1957 are located.A short walk leads to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, the city’s main church. From the outside, one can appreciate the classic style of the building, with symmetrical bell towers and, at the highest part of the facade, a bronze statue of the cathedral’s patron saint. Its interior houses biblical quotes and hand-painted pictures. Artistic stained glass covers an area of 147m². The Carrara marble altar, from Italy, is another highlight.There is also the famous, legendary, and centennial Madeira Mamoré Railway known worldwide. The railway has landmarks for tours. It was during the construction of one of Brazil’s most epic railways, the Madeira-Mamoré (EFMM), that Porto Velho emerged in 1907. Despite its great historical and economic importance for the capital, the railway was deactivated between 1960 and 1970. The museum keeps items from the old railway, tracks, and the Coronel Church Locomotive, the first steam engine to arrive in the Amazon. On weekends, it hosts a crafts fair.The Madeira is the main river that flows through the municipality, coming from the south of Bolivia.Whoever goes to Porto Velho must try the regional cuisine. Among the must-try dishes are tacaca, açaí, tapioca, and especially the fish pirarucu, tambaqui, and dourado. It is a great place to enjoy exotic flavors, such as maniçoba (a mixture of pork and beef with cassava leaves).Source: www.feriasenobrasil.com.br