Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture is a major cultural center in Fortaleza, the capital of the Brazilian state of Ceará. The center combines exhibition spaces, a library, a cinema, and a planetarium. In general, life is in full swing there! If you are planning your visit, be ready to spend at least half a day with pleasure.

The cultural center was opened in April 1999 and got its name “Dragão do Mar” in honor of Francisco José do Nascimento, the hero of Ceará. In 1881, he refused to transport slaves for further sale to the south of the country.

The area of ​​Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture is 33 thousand square meters. There is the Cearense Culture Memorial, the Contemporary Art Museum of Ceará, and the Governador Menezes Pimentel Public Library, two cinemas, Rubens de Azevedo Planetarium, the Sergio Mota Open Theater, as well as lecture and seminar halls.

The Governador Menezes Pimentel Public Library has more than 70,000 books! The hallmark of the collection is newspapers of the 19th century, as well as books of the 15th century.

The Cearense Culture Memorial displays exhibits about the traditional lifestyle and culture in the state. Six exhibition halls are located in an area of more than 800 square meters. Temporary exhibitions are located on the upper floors, while permanent exhibitions are next to the main entrance on the ground floor.

The Contemporary Art Museum of Ceará has about a thousand works by local, Brazilian and foreign artists. There are 13 halls in total.
Must see is an experimental Sala room with unusual and vibrant installations that show the connection of contemporary art with everyday life.

The Rubens de Azevedo planetarium was built using German technology, and it is one of the most modern in the world! It is the only planetarium in Brazil that displays an image using 20 different projectors. There are three sessions a day, each of which can be attended by up to 90 people.