Joao Pessoa tourist information
Joao Pessoa
The capital of the Paraíba State, besides beautiful beaches and white sand bathed by a blue sea, is a city with very particular characteristics. One of the most ancient cities on Brazil, João Pessoa was founded in 1585 and has a rich architectonic patrimony, including the beautiful baroque constructions, like the suite formed by the church São Francisco and the convent Santo Antônio, date from the XVIII century.
João Pessoa has big preserved natural forests, squares and gardens, that’s why it’s considered as one of the cities with highest indexes of green area per inhabitant in the world. Another interesting aspect of the city is that the most oriental point of Americas, the Ponta do Seixas, is located there, and it can be seen from the Farol do Cabo Branco (Cabo Branco Lighthouse).
Near João Pessoa, there are good places for boat strolls, as the natural pools of Picãozinho and on the island Areia Vermelha. A traditional programme is to see the sunset on the beach Jacaré, from one bar at the seacoast to the sound “Bolero”, from Ravel. There are also buggy strolls to the beaches on the region.
The northeast cookery is very well represented on João Pessoa. There are restaurants that serve typical dishes, including the salted meat, one of the most famous specialties on Paraíba State. The craftwork made with clay and oakum can be purchased on the Mercado de Artesanato Paraibano (Paraibano Craft Market).
Picãozinho is a formation of corals, in front of the beach Tambaú, that forms natural pools on the low tide, where is possible to see a lot of colorful little fishes. The access is by boat on a trip that takes 15 minutes. Another natural formation, that also generates pools on the low tide is the island Areia Vermelha, a sandbank with about two kilometers long e one kilometer wide. It’s a good place for swimming. It’s on the near town Cabedelo, in front of the beach Camboinha.
The beautiful architectonic suite with baroque style formed by the convent Santo Antônio and the church São Francisco has buildings dated from the XVIII century. The altar is a covered with gold cut and there are Portuguese tiles with oriental aspects. Transformed in a cultural center, there are expositions of sacred and popular art. It’s also worthwhile to visit the churches N.S. da Guia and N.S. do Carmo, the Palácio da Redenção (Redemption’s Palace) and the building where, on ancient times, was located the Faculdade de Direito, all of these buildings are dated from the end of the XVI century. Still is activity is the theater Santa Rosa, from 1889, one of the oldest on the country. The fort Santa Catarina, with cannons that are more than 400 years old, is on the near town Cabedelo, 25 km far from João Pessoa.
Some of the typical dishes on the northeastern hinterland, like the salted meat (dried beef to the sun), the haggis of goat (viscera of goat strongly tempered and cooked on a “bag” of animal stomach) and paçoca de pilão (salted meat roasted and crushed with flour) can be appreciated on the restaurants of João Pessoa.
Hotels with different levels of comfort are near to the beaches. Besides the restaurants that serve the regional dishes, there are several options of other specialties. The city has a good transportation and communication structure, car rental and tourism agencies and branches from the main banks.
João Pessoa is on the northeastern region, 2340 km far from Brasilia, 125 km far from Rio de Janeiro, 2440 km far from São Paulo and 2760 km far from Recife. Its airport receives flights from all capitals and the main cities on the country.
Joao Pessoa aerial map
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