In the northeast of Brazil lies one of the oldest places in the country. João Pessoa, the Paraiba capital, has kept its 400-year-old historic treasures intact. One of Brazil’s biggest parks is the Barroco Park, with its slopes and archaic colonial mansions. Along the coastlines are beaches that attract many visitors. The city is a mix of contrasts, having secular architecture on some parts and modern and sophisticated buildings on others. João Pessoa boasts big theaters, auditoriums and convention centers that are ready venues for numerous types of meetings and events.
What-s distinct about the city is it’s being situated at the extreme eastern point of continental Brazil (even in the Americas). Located north of Olinda and Recife and south of Pipa and Natal, Joao Pessoa is the greenest city in Brazil.
The city-s originally named Villa de Felipéia de NS das Neves in 1585. The name was later changed to João Pessoa, the governor of Paraíba allied with Getúlio Vargas in 1929 who was the running for the presidency of Brazil. Prominent in all Brazilian history books and emblazoned in bold letters on the state flag of Paraíba is the word ‘nego- (I refuse) which João Pessoa is famous for. Pessoa uttered it after being courted by the opposition party.
João Pessoa’s aspirations to be vice-president were cut short. He was assassinated in July 1930 and the event catapulted Getúlio Vargas to power (with plenty of help from the military) later that year after a revolutionary backlash.
Visitors are highly recommended to explore the Cabo Branco (White Cape). The cape was considered the easternmost point of the Americas at least for a time. To register the landmark, a lighthouse was built in the area. Marine erosion had unfortunately carried land away from Cabo Branco and deposited it on Ponta Seixas, about 3 km South thus officially making the Ponta Seixas the most Oriental point in continental Brazil as of date.
The beaches are the primary attractions here but a worthwhile stop is the Igreja de Sao Francisco which is one of the nicest churches in the country. The church is the third largest in the world and it has a panel in perspective on its ceiling.
If you need to relax, the Lagoa is just the place for you. There are buses leaving from here to Tambaú which is one of the main beaches in the eastern part of the town. You can also choose to head to Praia de Cabo Branco, Praia da Penha and Tambaba (nudist beach).
A tropical hot semi-humid climate is expected in this region. Temperature ranges from 20ºC to 29ºC, averaging at around 24ºC.