Official language: Portuguese
Time zone: UTC -3
Currency: Brazilian real (BRL)
In Parque Ambiental da Floresta Fóssil on the banks of the Poti River, there are paleontological sites with fossilized trees from the Permian period (c. 280-270 million years ago).
The motto of the city reads Omnia in charitatis. This Latin sentence means “Everything for love and charity”.
In the 19th century, the city was named Vila Nova do Poti, and later renamed to Teresina, in honor of Empress Teresa Cristina, wife to a Brazilian emperor Pedro II.
Teresina is the capital of Piauí region in northeastern Brazil. It is one of the hottest cities in the country; summer lasts whole year here, even during the rainy months, and the temperature varies between 22°C and 38°C. Teresina attracts tourists with lush greenery of parks. It is even called the Green City.
Founded in 1852, Teresina took the place of a former village inhabited by a small community of fishermen. Today, the region’s economy is based on international industry, trade, and tourism. The city is also famous for its unique pottery.
City parks are among Teresina’s main tourist attraction. Visit Parque Municipal do Encontro dos Rios to admire the outstanding landscape of two entwining rivers: Parnaíba and Poti. Go for a lazy stroll via Parque Estação da Cidadania and make sure to step into Parque Zoobotânico, where you can run across species that you never knew existed! It is also worth taking a look at the Saint Benedict’s Church (Igreja de São Benedito) which was built in 1874-1886 in Tuscan style. The doors of the temple, made of cedar and jacaranda wood, are particularly noteworthy. Fans of modern architecture cannot miss Ponte Estaiada, that is the bridge over Poti River. From Tuesday till Sunday a lift can take you to a viewing point at its top so that you can feast your eyes on a splendid panorama of the city.
The traditional cuisine of all regions in Brazil have one thing in common – they are all based on meat. Typical dishes from Teresina are no different. Local delicacies include Maria-Isabel (steamed beef goulash with rice, cooked in a clay pot), galinha ao molho pardo (chicken in brown sauce), as well as paçoca – a candy made of peanuts, sugar, and salt. If you are into desserts, you might like sweet lemons. The best local cuisine is to be found in São João, Favoritos Comidas Tipicas, or Frango Leste restaurants.