The specialty of Belém is pottery, mostly fashioned in the style of either the Marajóara or Tapajônica tribes, the indigenous inhabitants of Belém. The more ancient Marajóara tribe used angular designs, somewhat like the Aztec or the tribes of the American Southwest. Marajóara pottery features countless rotund gods and animals, somewhat like Hindu sculpture. The best place to shop for pottery is in the village of Icoaraci. The Ver-o-Peso Market is one vast shoppers' paradise. In Belém's historic downtown, the Rua Gaspar Viana is a pretty pedestrian street with cobblestones and countless small shops selling everything from hammocks to lingerie, clothing, appliances, and bootleg CDs. The Largo das Mercês is a good place to look for leather sandals, belts, and handbags. For jewelry and raw gemstones, go to the Gem Museum of Pará. For anything else, there's the three-floor Shopping Iguatemi mall, Travessia Padre Eutíquio 1078, Batista Campos (tel. 091/3250-5353; www.iguatemi.com.br). The mall is open Monday through Saturday 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 3 to 9pm. Bus: Shopping Iguatemi.
