To the other side of the bay of São Marcos, that separates Sao Luis of the continent, the small Alcântara reveals the wealth of the past of Brazil.
Old dwelled of the Indians tupinambás and later it soothes of the rural aristocracy, his small palaces, his tile facades, secular ruins and churches are a sample of the years of prosperity that prevailed in the region until half-full of century XIX, time at which began the economic decay of the state, and that only surpassed the one of principles of century XX.
With than 300 buildings and ruins scattered more by three places, eight cross-sectional streets and ten streets, Alcântara were declared monumental city in 1948.
At the same time as it causes an encounter with the past, Alcântara also lodges, from years 80, a sample of the modern aerospace technology. To seven kilometers of the city one is installed one of the most modern space bases of Latin America, where projects for launchings of satellites are carried out.