Alcântara

On the other side of the Bay of São Marcos, which separates São Luís from the mainland, little Alcântara in Maranhão reveals the rich past of Brazil. It was the home of the Tupinambás indians and later the centre of the rural aristocracy. Its colonial buildings, clad with tiles, its ruins and centuries-old churches are the legacy of the period of prosperity which the region enjoyed during the mid 19th century, which was followed by a period of economic decline, overcome at the beginning of the XXth century. With its 300 houses and ruins built around three squares and along eight main roads and ten side streets, the town of Alcântara was listed in 1948 because of its historical value.

But Alcântara isn't just a testimony of Brazil's past. Since the eighties, in fact, the city also offers an example of modern space technology. Seven kilometres outside the city we find one of the most modern space bases of Latin America, where projects focused on satellite launching are carried out.