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Paraíba Northeast Region |
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Filipéia de Nossa Senhora das
Neves, later
renamed
João Pessoa and transformed into the capital of the state of
Paraíba,
was founded in 1585 at the mouth of the Paraíba river. It was chosen by
the Portuguese as the site for São
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Felipe fort, the aim of which was to
resist the French invasions of the region. One of the oldest cities in
Brazil, its Historic Center includes churches, palaces, houses and other
buildings from the colonial and imperial past. There is the Casa de
Pólvora,
a former powder magazine which supplied troops fighting the invaders; the
Convent of Santo Antonio and the church of São Francisco, forming the
"baroque area", construction of which commenced in 1589 and took
almost 200 years to complete; and the Monastery, considered important for
the beauty of its facade, which includes sculptures, decorated tiles and
wood carvings, reflecting the influence of indigenous art.
João Pessoa is a coastal city, and most of its
beaches are in its outlying districts. Among them are Tambaú, 7 kilometers
from the city center, comprising one of the most famous
postcard views with the beauty of the scene and the jangadas on the sea;
Penha, only two kilometers away, a small fishing village; and, a little
further out at 48 kilometers, Tambaba, the only beach in the North East of
Brazil devoted entirely to naturalism. 14 kilometers from the center of
the city is the most easterly point of the South American continent, Ponta
do Seixas, where the dawn light first strikes Brazil. Nearby is Cabo
Branco, a popular beach for the beauty of its 50 meter high cliffs and the
fort of the same name.
