Ceramics featuring Maracá and Cunani motifs, a riverside promenade along the Beija-Flor, and a history of its own give Mazagão several specific points of interest for a stay. The Casa do Artesão is in the city center; historic sites in Vila de Mazagão Velho are nearby. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth distinguishing between Mazagão itself and the neighboring historic town.
Handicrafts and the Riverside in Mazagão
The Casa do Artesão is intended to showcase the work of local artisans and other local workers. Wood is one of the important raw materials. Most of the production consists of ceramics with graphic motifs from Maracá and Cunani. The materials and imagery give the handicrafts a specific cultural connection to Mazagão. Visitors interested in local craft traditions will find a different focus here than along the promenade: the emphasis is on production at the Casa do Artesão, and on a walk by the water along the promenade.
Mazagão lies on the right bank of the Vila Nova River. The Mazagão Novo promenade, by contrast, runs along the Beija-Flor and is suitable for late-afternoon walks. The two river names refer to different things: Vila Nova describes the city's location, while Beija-Flor is where the promenade is located. This makes it possible to describe the riverside more precisely without conflating it with either the walk or the handicrafts.
The City's History and Nearby Mazagão Velho
The present-day city of Mazagão was founded on November 15, 1915. Nearby is Vila de Mazagão, now Mazagão Velho: it is the colonial city of Mazagan, which Portugal relocated from Morocco to the Amazon region between 1771 and 1775. The similar-sounding names therefore refer to different historic places. Some historic buildings in Mazagão Velho may have been constructed in the second half of the 18th century; the historic structures can still be visited.
The Ruínas da Igreja Marroquina are also nearby. The archaeological site bears traces of the founding of Vila de Mazagão Velho. Another historic tradition in the district is the Festa de São Tiago, held there since 1772. It depicts the battle between Moors and Christians in African territories and brings together religious rituals, the Cavalhada, and open-air theater. The conflict is depicted in the theater. As the exact dates vary from year to year depending on the program, check the current festival dates before planning a trip specifically around the event.
Nature and Festivals in the Municipality
At the municipality level, Mazagão's natural attractions are also highlighted: the waterfall on the Maracá River is among the natural attractions mentioned there, and Lago do Ajuruxi is noted for its idyllic landscape. For nature lovers, the focus thus shifts from the city to the municipality.
A 2022 report mentions August festivities in honor of the city's patron saint, Nossa Senhora da Assunção, and the Festival da Laranja; it gives the first week of September for the Festival do Abacaxi. If you want a festival to determine your travel dates, check the current event dates before making plans.
Planning Your Trip and Accommodation
Mazagão is connected to Macapá by river and road. Before traveling, check which connection works for your travel dates. When looking for a vacation rental in Mazagão, you can first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay: in the city, handicrafts, local history, and the promenade offer distinct points of interest. Mazagão Velho adds colonial history, archaeological traces, and the Festa de São Tiago. If you would like to visit both places, plan the specific connections and, if traveling for the Festa de São Tiago, the relevant dates as well.
Discover more destinations: Fazendinha, Ferreira Gomes, Tartarugalzinho, Oiapoque, Macapá.
Back to the main travel guide: Amapá.
