Fortaleza's history began February 2, 1500 even if the real colonization started when the Dutch constructed Fort Schoonenborch in 1649. Later, the Portuguese expelled the Dutch and renamed it Forte de Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Around the fort, which even today is perfectly preserved, a small village grew to become the fifth largest city in Brazil.

Located in the northeastern corner of Brazil, Ceará is the Brazilian State nearest Europe and North America. With more than 3 million people, Fortaleza is the capital and most important city in Ceará and the fifth largest metropolitan area in Brazil.

The coast line is 573 km and is divided in Eastern Coast (Litoral Leste), from Fortaleza eastwards to neighbour State of Rio Grande do Norte, and Western Coast (Litoral Oeste), from Fortaleza westwards to the neighbour State of Piauí.

Besides cities in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza (such as Caucaia and Aquiraz), the most important touristic spots in Ceará are Jericoacoara (still a small village, with a little over 10,000 residents), located about 300 km east of Fortaleza, and Canoa Quebrada, in the city of Aracati (the best carnival in Ceará), about 200 km west of Fortaleza.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Ceará (and Fortaleza in particular) found their true avocation: the tourism. Word of mouth about the beautinesses of the State, along with marketing campaigns in Brazilian media turned Fortaleza into one of the most popular destinations in Brazil. Heavy investments, both private and official, improved the infrastructure of tourism (roads, airport, hotels, restaurants, police, etc). The foreigners arrived next, both to invest and to enjoy.

Since the early 1990s, the successive governments have been recognized as ethical and efficient, improving social and economic indicators. Ceará today is a State with excellent perspectives.