World Cup Brazil city guide: Manaus

BBC Brazil's Camilla Costa offers an insider's view of the 12 cities hosting matches in this year's Fifa World Cup tournament.

Manaus

Overview

Manaus takes its name from the local Manaos indigenous tribe, which resisted colonisation, but has disappeared.

Manaus is known for its 19th century opera house

The city flourished during the rubber boom in the 19th century during which its landmark opera house was built.

Today it has a healthy local economy, thanks to a local free economic zone which has attracted new investment. Some of the products that are made there: mobile phones, TVs, motorcycles.

Inequality and unplanned growth are among the city's problems.

Venue

Arena Amazonia. Capacity: 42,374

Despite not being one of the hotbeds of Brazilian football, the city's former Vivaldao stadium has been transformed into one of this World Cup's green arenas.

The Arena Amazonia is now enclosed by a metal structure, intended to resemble the straw baskets produced in the region.

But the project won some troubling headlines, as four workers died during construction.

Culture and cuisine

Some Amazonian river fish can reach up to two metres in length

Amazonian river fish are a popular delicacy in Manaus, with pirarucu, tambaqui, matrinxa and jaraqui all worth a try.

There is also the famous bodo fish soup, which is said to be a good cure for a hangover.

The city also plays host to some of the celebrations of the annual folk tradition Boi Bumba, which tells the tale of a bull that dies and is brought back to life. Although the main events take place in the city of Parintins at the end of June, the rehearsals happen in Manaus, including concerts called Bar do Boi.