Wrapped around a sparkling lagoon that links up with the sea, Maceió is a modern tourist destination with a reverence for its Portuguese colonial past. Spot architectural jewels including the stunning blue-and-white-tiled Bom Jesus dos Martírios church and take in a sweeping panorama of the city from the São Gonçalo Belvedere. For an authentic keepsake, select among a rainbow of rendas, traditional lacework evocative of fish netting that has been dyed in tropical colors. It’s no surprise that in Maceió water activities reign supreme, including a catamaran cruise over the Mundaú Lagoon to a secluded beach for the ultimate respite under the sun.
