Discover the Itacoatiara City / AM
Located in the heart of the great intertropical zone, in the central-eastern Mesoregion of the State of Amazonas and integrates the Metropolitan Region of Manaus. It is 26 meters above sea level. Perched on the left bank of the great Amazon River, just above the mouth of the Madeira River. It is 177 km from Manaus, in a straight line, and 276 km by road. Due to its excellent geographical position, it has an important role in the context of the Western Brazilian Amazon.
Included among urban groupings founded in the 17th century by Portuguese colonization. Initially an itinerant village on the middle of the Madeira River administered by the Jesuit priests, the original nucleus was transferred in 1683 to the banks of the Amazon River, where the following year (1759) it received the municipal forums with the title of Vila de Serpa and, finally, the April 25, 1874 won the category of city with the current denomination. On September 8, it will complete 338 years of existence, counted since the foundation of its original nucleus.
The term Itacoatiara, from the tupi i'tákwati'ara, refers to Sítio Itaquatiara, on the edge of the Jauari neighborhood, where, during the ebb times, drawings and paintings on stones reproducing human and animal figures, made by the Indians can be seen of the Aroaqui Ethnicity in the pre-Columbian period. For this reason, it is known as "Cidade da Pedra Pintada"or "City of the Painted Stone". It also responds by the nickname "Velha Serpa" or "Old Serpa", remembering the Portuguese title given to the old village. It can also be called Cidade-Canção or "City of Song"because it has hosted, since 1985, the FECANI (Festival of the Song of Itacoatiara), one of the most expressive cultural movements in the North-Northeast of Brazil.
Surrounded by upland forests, floodplains and igapós, a floristic lining that corresponds to the hot and humid tropical climate, present throughout the Amazon - cut from panoramic and very fishy waterways, with the Anebá, Carú, Preto da Evarivers standing out and Urubu - the latter full of wild inns - in addition to the Arari, Canaçari and Serpa lakes, an invitation to stroll through the jungle, to enjoy the art of handmaker fishing available and to the taste of national and international tourists.
Cidade da Pedra Pintada or City of the Painted Stone stands out for its mysticism, for the stories of the past. Many of its places, urban and rural, resemble the ancient indigenous culture: the Costa do Arapapá, Paraná do Arauató, the Igarapés do Ingaipáua, Carão and Cainamã, the neighborhoods of Jauari and Iraci, etc. It stands out for its historic center full of buildings in classic and eclectic styles, dating from the golden period of rubber (1870-1912). City of well-drawn and clean streets, where, at every corner and in every corner, there are signs of mixing the past with the present. The imposing Cathedral with the image of the Saint Patron, a Baroque sculpture imported from Portugal and dating from the second half of the 18th century; the Historic Stone in the center of the Main Square; Avenida Parque - the largest green tunnel in Brazil; the Events Center; the federal and state universities; the taverns in the periphery; the Jauari Rocks, where, at the time of the piracema, fish swarm close to the shore, and loom large in number and multivariate of species. According to the current voice: "Whoever goes to Itacoatiara and eats Jaraqui do Jauari, never forgets here".
By nature, the inhabitant of Itacoatiara is always marupiara, who, for the Indians, was a happy person in hunting or fishing; and today a person who seeks to be happy in business and in love. Unlike panema: unhappy in life, unlucky, or victim of a spell. When visiting the Municipality of Itacoatiara, tourists have the opportunity to 1) inland, get to know and enjoy a portentous and still alive nature: rivers and forests, walks in the jungle, fishing, living with the simple, the natural and the wonderful; 2) in the city, discovering a traditional party atmosphere and living with a happy and hospitable people; 3) in addition to the good reception, there is the creativity of local artists and the existence of a rich and varied cuisine. To learn more about the history of Itacoatiara, the traditions and the walk of its people, it is advisable to read the works of his most illustrious son: the historian Francisco Gomes da Silva. See: www.franciscogomesdasilva.com.br and franciscogomes.hist@hotmail.
Geography
The municipality occupies an area of 8,891.906 km², 10.2412 km² of which are in urban areas. The city is surrounded by the municipalities of Silves and Itapiranga (to the north), Nova Olinda do Norte and Autazes (to the south), Urucurituba, Boa Vista do Ramos and Maués (to the east) and Manaus and Rio Preto da Eva (to the west).
Prehistory
Archaeological remains suggest that highly advanced civilizations inhabited the Itacoatiara region for at least 4,000 years. According to naturalist Barbos Rodrigues, these civilizations marked hundreds of petroglyphs (engravings marked on the rocks) on the sandstone rocks of the city coast and the Urubu River, with drawings in low relief, depicting faces and drawings of animals. In addition, various ceramic materials were left by these peoples.
Culture
The city is the birthplace of the Itacoatiara Song Festival (Fecani), considered the largest music festival in the North Region. The first edition of Fecani took place in 1985 and takes place every year in September. Several Amazonian artists perform at the festival, which aims to enhance local music and talents.
Every year in August, the traditional Pineapple Festival is celebrated. Residents of other municipalities travel to Itacoatiara to honor the Festival that exalts the fruit, highlighted in the local economy.
Folklore
Presentations made during Carnival and Festivals highlight regional folklore. At the carnival, the traditional giant doll 'Tia Suzana' is presented, which opens the momesca party in the municipality. In the folk festival, held in June, the Lundum Dance, of typical African origin, stands out, brought by the Afro-descendant community that migrated to the municipality at the time of its colonization. In addition to this dance, there are the traditional bumbás, which dance on the streets of the city, presenting the original ritual with the death, sharing and resurrection of the ox. The parties also present the legends of the big snake of Matriz, the legend of the dolphin among others, which permeate the imagination of the Itacoatiar people.