The Dragão do Mar Centre of Art and Culture in the Praia de Iracema neighbourhood is Fortaleza's most important cultural complex — a cluster of interconnected buildings that includes a contemporary art museum (the Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Ceará), a memorial to the culture of Ceará, a planetarium, a cinema, and an outdoor amphitheatre. It was opened in 1999 and transformed what had been a run-down waterfront district into the city's creative centre.
The complex is liveliest in the evenings, when the surrounding streets fill with bars, food stalls, and forró music spilling out of open doorways. The planetarium shows are worth attending if you are there at the right time; the contemporary art exhibitions are variable but often strong on Brazilian artists from the Northeast. The terrace bar on the roof level has a good view over the bay. Even if you skip the museums, the architecture and the outdoor public spaces make it worth an evening visit.