João Pessoa
Encyclopedia
João Pessoa is the capital city of the state of Paraíba
, was founded in 1585 and sometimes called the city where the sun rises first, is a Brazil
ian city and the easternmost city in the Americas
at 34º47'38"W, 7º9'28"S. Local residents call its easternmost point Ponta do Seixas. It is also considered "the second greenest city in the world
". The city has more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris
, France
.
It gained this distinction in 1992, after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations
(source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK). The city is characterized by the juxtaposition of tropical beaches, modern architecture and historic buildings from colonial periods.
João Pessoa is the capital of Paraíba
, a state in the northeast
region of Brazil
and home to some 19th and 20th century Brazilian poets and writers such as Augusto dos Anjos
, José Américo de Almeida
, José Lins do Rego
and Pedro Américo
. It took its current name in 1930, in homage to state president (governor) João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque
, who was assassinated on 26 July of that year. It is the state's largest city, with a population of circa 720,000 (about one sixth of the state's population). Its metropolitan area
comprises eight other satellite cities (Bayeux, Cabedelo, Conde
, Lucena
, and Santa Rita
) and about 384,000 people, totalling more than one million inhabitants.
It is the capital with the shortest distance from another capital (Recife
) which is approximately 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) away, as well as Natal
, 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) north of João Pessoa. Due to the high growth rate of these three capital cities, it is believed that for the next few decades an informal megalopolis will be set up, especially between Recife and João Pessoa.
The city is one of the oldest in the northeast
of the country. Theatres, auditoriums and convention centres are part of the available infrastructure
in the city.
The new Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport
connects João Pessoa with many Brazilian cities and also operates some international flights.
The new "Estação Ciência, Cultura e Artes" (Science, Culture and Art Station) located at the most eastern point of the Americas (Ponta das Seixas) is both an educational and cultural institution as well as a national landmark. The complex, inaugurated in 2008, was created by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer
and is one of his latest projects.
, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate, with very hot temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. Generally speaking, the dry season
(from mid-September to early June) is characterised by long stretches of warm wind, sunny weather with unpleasant temperatures throughout the day and night (35°C and 26°C). However, these conditions are slightly relieved when the wet season
begins (from mid-june to early september) with highs between 28°C and 30°C and lows around 23°C.
João Pessoa has many green areas distributed among its avenues, parks, and residential neighborhoods, which support its claim as "the second greenest city in the world" with more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris. It was considered thus in 1992, after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations (source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK).
João Pessoa is situated in a tropical zone, with regular rain regimen and thus a lush vegetation (tropical rain forest).
traders of Brazilwood
. Following a war between the French, their indigenous allies, the Tabajara
, and the Portuguese, the city was founded by Portuguese
settlers from Pernambuco
on August 5, 1585. They named it Nossa Senhora das Neves ("Our Lady of the Snow"), after the Saint of that day. Initially, the city was under Spanish influence, as Spain and Portugal were united in the Iberian Union
(1580–1640), and in 1588 the city was even renamed Filipéia de Nossa Senhora das Neves after Philip II of Spain
.
The area soon proved perfect for sugar
production, with the French
, the Dutch
and the Portuguese all fighting to control the Paraíba region as a place to grow the lucrative sugarcane
. The fortress of Santa Catarina, near João Pessoa, was built by the Portuguese to protect the city from the invading Dutch, who soon became the greatest threat to Portuguese supremacy in Portugal's Colonial Brazil
. From 1634 through 1654, the city was held by the Dutch
, who renamed it Frederikstadt, after their stadtholder
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
. They renamed it "Fort Margaretha after the mother of Count Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen
, Governor of Dutch Brazil (or New Holland). The names Nossa Senhora das Neves and Santa Catarina were restored after the Portuguese reoccupation.
In 1817, the city was once again renamed Parahyba do Norte. After a visit to the city by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil
in 1859, the city acquired the title of "Imperial City".
On July 26, 1930, during the Brazilian Revolution of 1930
, the governor of Paraíba, João Pessoa, was assassinated in Recife by his political adversary, João Duarte Dantas. On September 4 of that same year, Parahyba's citizens voted to honor him by renaming the city "Joao Pessoa."
, 38.72% Pardo
Brown (Multiracial), 2.77% Black
, 0.25% Asian
or Amerindian
.
Source: IBGE
2000.
, and the dialect
al differences regarding other Brazilian varieties are mainly phonological (Northeastern accent). Portuguese is the primary language taught in schools and it is spoken by 100% of the population. English
and Spanish
are part of the official high school
curriculum.
The city is home to the Federal University of Paraíba and several other universities and faculties. Below are some of the higher education institutions at João Pessoa:
Located in the municipality of Bayeux, eight kilometers from downtown João Pessoa, Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport
is currently undergoing expansion and remodeling, which will raise the terminal's
annual capacity to 860,000 passengers. The airport is well located in relation to obstacles because it covers an area roughly 65 meters above sea level and is sufficiently distant from urban areas or large real estate developments.
The surrounding area is sparsely populated, with large open spaces. The existing developments are industrial with some small weekend country houses. There is no rough terrain or tall buildings nearby creating obstacles for takeoffs and landings. The airport also has excellent climatic condition
s for air operations. Moreover, within its approach radius there are no obstacles that can hinder or create risk for local air traffic. Named for a past president (former name for governor
s) of Paraíba
, Castro Pinto, the airport operates round the clock. The current passenger terminal, built in an area of 8,947.72 square meters, has two levels, gardens and ample vehicle
parking
.
In the city, public transportation is primarily based on a private bus system, taxis and railways. The city has approximately 500 buses. A single passenger ticket can be used to travel around town and to make connections. There is a major terminal (Terminal de Integração do Varadouro) where passengers can change buses. An electronic ticketing system is being implemented to offer better efficiency to passengers. Currently the bus fare is R$
2,10, or approximately $ 1,25 USD
, (as of 2009).
Extended time or trips in taxis can often be negotiated directly with the driver. For example, a taxi from Campina Grande to João Pessoa, about two hours away, can be taken for about R$
40, or $ 16 USD
, depending on the exchange rate.
5,024,604,000 (2005).
The per capita income
for the city was R$
7,604 (2005).
João Pessoa is located in the easternmost point of the Americas and is the second greenest city in the world, coupled with 40 km of tropical beaches. Tourism
is one of João Pessoa's chief economic activities, together with construction
, food, metalworking
, and other industries. Sugar cane agriculture
and related industries are also important. Historically, Tarcisio de Miranda Burity, a former governor, has made major strides to improve the infrastructure of the city and to support the arts. Today, João Pessoa has a growing tourist and commercial industry. The second-largest mall in the Northeast region of Brazil, Shopping Manaira, is located in Joao Pessoa.
João Pessoa has one publication which highlights its tourist attractions: The Guia Mais Joao Pessoa. Major local newspapers, such as O Correio da Paraiba and O Norte, highlight a wide range of events on a weekly basis. Below are a few of the major attractions.
, Santa Rosa
, Antonio Dias
, Ivan Freitas, Alexandre Filho, Antonio Augusto Fontes, Jackson Ribeiro, Roberto Coura, José Rufino, Alice Vinagre, José Simeão Leal, Antonio Bento, Paulo Sérgio Duarte e Rubem Navarra – to list a few."
Aracaju
, Brazil
Salvador
, Brazil
Maceió
, Brazil
Recife
, Brazil
Ovar
, Portugal
Coimbra
, Portugal
Lisboa, Portugal
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
, was founded in 1585 and sometimes called the city where the sun rises first, is a Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian city and the easternmost city in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
at 34º47'38"W, 7º9'28"S. Local residents call its easternmost point Ponta do Seixas. It is also considered "the second greenest city in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
". The city has more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It gained this distinction in 1992, after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK). The city is characterized by the juxtaposition of tropical beaches, modern architecture and historic buildings from colonial periods.
João Pessoa is the capital of Paraíba
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
, a state in the northeast
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
region of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and home to some 19th and 20th century Brazilian poets and writers such as Augusto dos Anjos
Augusto dos Anjos
Augusto de Carvalho Rodrigues dos Anjos was a Brazilian poet and professor. His poems speak mostly of sickness and death, and are considered to forerun the Modernism in Brazil....
, José Américo de Almeida
José Américo de Almeida
José Américo de Almeida was a Brazilian writer, a politician, a lawyer and a teacher.- Bibliography :* Reflexões de um Cabra, 1922* A Paraíba e seus Problemas, 1923* A Bagaceira, 1928...
, José Lins do Rego
José Lins do Rego
José Lins do Rego Cavalcanti was a Brazilian novelist most known for his semi-autobiographical "sugarcane cycle." These novels were the basis of films that had distribution in the English speaking world...
and Pedro Américo
Pedro Américo
Pedro Américo de Figueiredo e Melo was one of the most important academic painters of Brazil. He was also a writer and a teacher....
. It took its current name in 1930, in homage to state president (governor) João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque
João Pessoa Cavalcânti de Albuquerque
João Pessoa Cavalcânti de Albuquerque , was the governor of Paraíba between 1928 and 1930. He was the vice-presidential nominee on the ticket of Getúlio Vargas in the 1930 presidential elections...
, who was assassinated on 26 July of that year. It is the state's largest city, with a population of circa 720,000 (about one sixth of the state's population). Its metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
comprises eight other satellite cities (Bayeux, Cabedelo, Conde
Conde
Conde is a title of nobility in Spanish, Galician and Portuguese. In English, the title is Count or Earl. The female form is Condesa in Spanish and Galician and Condessa in Portuguese. The territory of a Conde is called a Condado, equivalent to Countship or County...
, Lucena
Lucena, Brazil
Lucena, Brazil is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil....
, and Santa Rita
Santa Rita, Paraíba
Santa Rita, Paraíba is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil.Santa Cruz Recreativo Esporte Clube is the municipality's football club....
) and about 384,000 people, totalling more than one million inhabitants.
It is the capital with the shortest distance from another capital (Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
) which is approximately 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) away, as well as Natal
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
, 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) north of João Pessoa. Due to the high growth rate of these three capital cities, it is believed that for the next few decades an informal megalopolis will be set up, especially between Recife and João Pessoa.
The city is one of the oldest in the northeast
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
of the country. Theatres, auditoriums and convention centres are part of the available infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
in the city.
The new Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport
Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport
Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport is the airport serving João Pessoa, Brazil located in the adjoining municipality of Bayeux. The airport is named after João Pereira de Castro Pinto , a laywer, writer and former Governor of the State of Paraíba.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The...
connects João Pessoa with many Brazilian cities and also operates some international flights.
The new "Estação Ciência, Cultura e Artes" (Science, Culture and Art Station) located at the most eastern point of the Americas (Ponta das Seixas) is both an educational and cultural institution as well as a national landmark. The complex, inaugurated in 2008, was created by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
and is one of his latest projects.
Geography
Climate
João Pessoa has a tropical climateTropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate, with very hot temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. Generally speaking, the dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
(from mid-September to early June) is characterised by long stretches of warm wind, sunny weather with unpleasant temperatures throughout the day and night (35°C and 26°C). However, these conditions are slightly relieved when the wet season
Wet season
The the wet season, or rainy season, is the time of year, covering one or more months, when most of the average annual rainfall in a region occurs. The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the...
begins (from mid-june to early september) with highs between 28°C and 30°C and lows around 23°C.
Environment
João Pessoa has approximately 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) of beaches (both residential and virgin) as well as many small, natural islands.João Pessoa has many green areas distributed among its avenues, parks, and residential neighborhoods, which support its claim as "the second greenest city in the world" with more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris. It was considered thus in 1992, after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations (source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK).
João Pessoa is situated in a tropical zone, with regular rain regimen and thus a lush vegetation (tropical rain forest).
History
João Pessoa is one of the oldest cities in Brazil. The first Europeans who entered the area were FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
traders of Brazilwood
Brazilwood
Caesalpinia echinata is a species of Brazilian timber tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include Brazilwood, Pau-Brasil, Pau de Pernambuco and Ibirapitanga . This plant has a dense, orange-red heartwood that takes a high shine, and it is the premier wood used for making bows for...
. Following a war between the French, their indigenous allies, the Tabajara
Tabajara
Tabajara is a nation of indigenous people, who had lived in interior of the Ceará, specially in Serra da Ibiapaba. This name means lord of village from taba village, and jara lord; according to José de Alencar....
, and the Portuguese, the city was founded by Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
settlers from Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
on August 5, 1585. They named it Nossa Senhora das Neves ("Our Lady of the Snow"), after the Saint of that day. Initially, the city was under Spanish influence, as Spain and Portugal were united in the Iberian Union
Iberian Union
The Iberian union was a political unit that governed all of the Iberian Peninsula south of the Pyrenees from 1580–1640, through a dynastic union between the monarchies of Portugal and Spain after the War of the Portuguese Succession...
(1580–1640), and in 1588 the city was even renamed Filipéia de Nossa Senhora das Neves after Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
.
The area soon proved perfect for sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
production, with the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the Portuguese all fighting to control the Paraíba region as a place to grow the lucrative sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
. The fortress of Santa Catarina, near João Pessoa, was built by the Portuguese to protect the city from the invading Dutch, who soon became the greatest threat to Portuguese supremacy in Portugal's Colonial Brazil
Colonial Brazil
In the history of Brazil, Colonial Brazil, officially the Viceroyalty of Brazil comprises the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to kingdom alongside Portugal as the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves.During the over 300 years...
. From 1634 through 1654, the city was held by the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who renamed it Frederikstadt, after their stadtholder
Stadtholder
A Stadtholder A Stadtholder A Stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder [], "steward" or "lieutenant", literally place holder, holding someones place, possibly a calque of German Statthalter, French lieutenant, or Middle Latin locum tenens...
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch , was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 1647.-Early life:...
. They renamed it "Fort Margaretha after the mother of Count Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegen
John Maurice of Nassau
John Maurice of Nassau was count and prince of Nassau-Siegen.He was born in Dillenburg...
, Governor of Dutch Brazil (or New Holland). The names Nossa Senhora das Neves and Santa Catarina were restored after the Portuguese reoccupation.
In 1817, the city was once again renamed Parahyba do Norte. After a visit to the city by Emperor Pedro II of Brazil
Pedro II of Brazil
Dom Pedro II , nicknamed "the Magnanimous", was the second and last ruler of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was the seventh child of Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina and thus a member of the Brazilian branch of...
in 1859, the city acquired the title of "Imperial City".
On July 26, 1930, during the Brazilian Revolution of 1930
Brazilian Revolution of 1930
The Revolution of 1930 was a movement that overthrew President Washington Luís and installed Getúlio Vargas as Provisional President.-See also:*Revolutions of Brazil*History of Brazil...
, the governor of Paraíba, João Pessoa, was assassinated in Recife by his political adversary, João Duarte Dantas. On September 4 of that same year, Parahyba's citizens voted to honor him by renaming the city "Joao Pessoa."
Demographics
According to the IBGE of 2009, there were 702,000 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 45.72% WhiteWhite Brazilian
White Brazilians make up 48.4% of Brazil's population, or around 92 million people, according to the IBGE's 2008 PNAD . Whites are present in the entire territory of Brazil, although the main concentrations are found in the South and Southeastern parts of the country...
, 38.72% Pardo
Pardo
In Brazil, Pardo is a race/colour category used by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics in Brazilian censuses. It is a Portuguese word that encompasses various shades of brown, but is usually translated as "grayish-brown"...
Brown (Multiracial), 2.77% Black
Afro-Brazilian
In Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
, 0.25% Asian
Asian Brazilian
An Asian Brazilian is is a Brazilian citizen of full or partial Asian ancestry, who remains culturally connected to Asia, or an Asian-born person permanently residing in Brazil. Brazil received many immigrants from Asia, both from Middle East and East Asia...
or Amerindian
Indigenous peoples in Brazil
The Indigenous peoples in Brazil comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the country prior to the European invasion around 1500...
.
Religion
| Religion | Percentage | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Catholic The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"... |
74.06% | 442,841 |
| Protestant | 15.92% | 95,191 |
| No religion Atheism Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities... |
7.41% | 44,332 |
| Spiritist Spiritism Spiritism is a loose corpus of religious faiths having in common the general belief in the survival of a spirit after death. In a stricter sense, it is the religion, beliefs and practices of the people affiliated to the International Spiritist Union, based on the works of Allan Kardec and others... |
1.10% | 6,571 |
Source: IBGE
IBGE
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics or IBGE , is the agency responsible for statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil...
2000.
Education and culture
The official language is PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
, and the dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
al differences regarding other Brazilian varieties are mainly phonological (Northeastern accent). Portuguese is the primary language taught in schools and it is spoken by 100% of the population. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
are part of the official high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
curriculum.
Higher education
- Federal University of ParaíbaFederal University of ParaíbaThe Universidade Federal da Paraíba is a public university whose main campus is located in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Federal University of Paraíba is recommended by the university if necessary...
(UFPB); - Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology (IFPB);
- Paraíba State University (UEPB);
- João Pessoa University Center (UNIPÊ);
- Paraíba Institute of Higher Education (IESP);
- Maurício de Nassau College (FMN);
- Paraíba Medical Sciences College (FCM);
- Nova Esperança College of Medicine (FAMENE);
- Asper College (ASPER);
- and many others.
Cultural centers
- Espaco Cultural, one of the largest arts centers in the northeast of Brazil. It features modern architecture and is a major cultural venue for the state. Its architectonic complex includes a live concert plaza, convention facilities, movie theater, play theater, art gallery, planetarium, craft stores, and more.
- Estacao Ciencia, Cultura e Artes ("Science, Culture and Art Station"), a project by Brazilian architect Oscar NiemeyerOscar NiemeyerOscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
at Ponta das Seixas. The center provides a wide range of cultural and educational activities for locals and turists.
International airport
Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport
Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport is the airport serving João Pessoa, Brazil located in the adjoining municipality of Bayeux. The airport is named after João Pereira de Castro Pinto , a laywer, writer and former Governor of the State of Paraíba.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The...
is currently undergoing expansion and remodeling, which will raise the terminal's
Airport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
annual capacity to 860,000 passengers. The airport is well located in relation to obstacles because it covers an area roughly 65 meters above sea level and is sufficiently distant from urban areas or large real estate developments.
The surrounding area is sparsely populated, with large open spaces. The existing developments are industrial with some small weekend country houses. There is no rough terrain or tall buildings nearby creating obstacles for takeoffs and landings. The airport also has excellent climatic condition
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
s for air operations. Moreover, within its approach radius there are no obstacles that can hinder or create risk for local air traffic. Named for a past president (former name for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s) of Paraíba
Paraíba
Paraíba Paraíba Paraíba (Tupi: pa'ra a'íba: "bad to navigation"; Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: is a state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east...
, Castro Pinto, the airport operates round the clock. The current passenger terminal, built in an area of 8,947.72 square meters, has two levels, gardens and ample vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
parking
Parking
Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions...
.
Urban transportation
Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
2,10, or approximately $ 1,25 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
, (as of 2009).
Extended time or trips in taxis can often be negotiated directly with the driver. For example, a taxi from Campina Grande to João Pessoa, about two hours away, can be taken for about R$
Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
40, or $ 16 USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
, depending on the exchange rate.
Railway
The railway system provides inter-city commuting for people from cities in the metropolitan area only in parts of the western and northern area of the capital.Distances from other capitals
- BelémBelémBelém is a Brazilian city, the capital and largest city of state of Pará, in the country's north region. It is the entrance gate to the Amazon with a busy port, airport and bus/coach station...
: 2161 kilometres (1,342.8 mi) - BrasíliaBrasíliaBrasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
: 2338 kilometres (1,452.8 mi) - FortalezaFortalezaFortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population close to 2.5 million , Fortaleza is the 5th largest city in Brazil. It has an area of and one of the highest demographic densities in the country...
: 688 kilometres (427.5 mi) - NatalNatal, Rio Grande do Norte-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
: 180 kilometres (111.8 mi) - Porto AlegrePorto AlegrePorto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
: 3889 kilometres (2,416.5 mi) - RecifeRecifeRecife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
: 125 kilometres (77.7 mi) - Rio de Janeiro: 2448 kilometres (1,521.1 mi)
- SalvadorSalvador, BahiaSalvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
: 944 kilometres (586.6 mi) - São Paulo: 2770 kilometres (1,721.2 mi)
Economy
The GDP for the city was R$Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
5,024,604,000 (2005).
The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was R$
Brazilian real
The real is the present-day currency of Brazil. Its sign is R$ and its ISO code is BRL. It is subdivided into 100 centavos ....
7,604 (2005).
Main sights
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is one of João Pessoa's chief economic activities, together with construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
, food, metalworking
Metalworking
Metalworking is the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large scale structures. The term covers a wide range of work from large ships and bridges to precise engine parts and delicate jewelry. It therefore includes a correspondingly wide range of skills,...
, and other industries. Sugar cane agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and related industries are also important. Historically, Tarcisio de Miranda Burity, a former governor, has made major strides to improve the infrastructure of the city and to support the arts. Today, João Pessoa has a growing tourist and commercial industry. The second-largest mall in the Northeast region of Brazil, Shopping Manaira, is located in Joao Pessoa.
João Pessoa has one publication which highlights its tourist attractions: The Guia Mais Joao Pessoa. Major local newspapers, such as O Correio da Paraiba and O Norte, highlight a wide range of events on a weekly basis. Below are a few of the major attractions.
Historical sites
- Barroco Park. It is formed by the colonial mansions scattered around the upper and lower regions of the city.
- Theatro Santa Roza (1889), decorated in Baroque style. It is one of the oldest theatres in the country. It is located at Pedro Américo Square.
- Redenção Palace. Erected in 1586, Redenção Palace used to be the home of the old Jesuits convent. Today the building is the State Government headquarters.
- Santa Catarina Fortress, built in 1586. It comprises the captain's house, a chapel and cannons from the 16th century.
- Saint Francis Church and Saint Anthony Convent. Totally embellished in Baroque style, the church and the convent were built in 1589 and 1779, respectively. The highlights are the chapels of the Third Order of Saint Francis and Saint Benedict, featuring Portuguese ceramic panels and sacristy. The spaces also feature, regularly, popular art exhibitions.
- São Frei Pedro Gonçalves Church. Erected in 1843, the church was restored in 2002 and features the foundations from the old 17th century building. In front of it there are many restored colonial mansions.
Parks
- Solon de Lucena Park. Located at the commercial centre of the city, it has numerous centenary imperial palm trees, golden trumpet trees and acacias – the tree symbol of the city. At the centre there is a luminous fountain.
- Arruda Câmara Park. Also known as "Bica", because of an old mineral water fountain, it features a zoo, botanic garden and leisure areas.
Monuments
- Cabo Branco Lighthouse, located at the easternmost inland point in the Country and allows panoramic views of the city; from there all the Ponta das Seixas beach can be seen.
Museums
- Museum of Cultural Center of Saint Francis, a permanent exhibition of Religious and Baroque Art. Also, the center offers contemporary art and craft exhibitions. Located in the site of Saint Francis Church.
- José Lins do Rego Museum. Located at Espaço Cultural, the museum has a library of over 4000 volumes, photos, letters, honors, manuscripts, and personal objects of Rego, a major paraibano writer.
- Casa do Artista Popular. This museum has over 1000 works of crafts representing a wide range of styles developed in the state of Paraiba. The museum also has library and gift shops.
- Espaço Energia. This museum takes visitors through the history of electricity. The museum shows the types of energy used in the 19th century and ends its display with a contemporary home, fully equipped with electrical appliances and such. Housed at Usina Cultural da Saelpa.
- Ocean Museum of Cabedelo, a collection that highlights the remaining of ships that sank in the area.
- Epitácio Pessoa Museum (Museu e Cripta de Epitácio Pessoa). The museum houses objects from former Brazilian president Epitácio Pessoa.
- Historic Archive of the State of Paraíba (Arquivo Historico do Estado da Paraiba), which preserves the historic heritage of the state.
- José Américo de Almeida Museum (Museu José Américo de Almeida). The house where lived this noted political figure and write Minister José Américo de Almeida.
Theatres
- Santa Rosa Theatre
- Paulo Pontes Theatre in Espaço Cultural
- Theatre of Arena in Espaço Cultural
- Lima Penante Theatre
- Ednaldo do Egypto Theatre
- Ariano Suassuna Theatre
- Sala de Cultura in Shopping Sul
Movie theaters
- Box Cinemas in Manaíra Shopping
- Mutiplex Tambiá 6 in Tambiá Shopping
- Cine Bangüe in Espaço Cultural
- Cine Espaço in Mag Shopping
Major art galleries
- Casa do Artista Popular
- Casarão dos Azulejos
- Casarão 34
- Centro Cultural São Francisco
- Cripta do Presidente Epitácio Pessoa
- Gabinete Cultural Flávio Eduardo Maroja (Fuba)
- Galeria de Arte “13 de maio"
- Galeria de Artes Archidy Picado
- Galeria Gamela
- Galeria Ponta das Artes
- Mausoléo de João Pessoa
- Sala de Cultura da Setur
- Usina Cultural e Estação da Energia (former Estação da Cruz do Peixe)
Visual Arts of Paraíba
The visual arts in the state of Paraíba have been prolific and João Pessoa has been a major dissemination site. Events such as FENART and Arte Atual Paraibana have showcased new and stablished artists. A recent initiative produced and promoted by the city of Joao Pessoa is the Dictionary of Visual Arts of Paraíba. Dyogenes Chaves, in the presentation text, reminds the reader that the dictionary covers a wide range of artists, from the least to the most known, such as "Pedro AméricoPedro Américo
Pedro Américo de Figueiredo e Melo was one of the most important academic painters of Brazil. He was also a writer and a teacher....
, Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is the Spanish and Portuguese name for Saint Rose. It may also refer to:-Places: Argentina:*Santa Rosa, La Pampa*Santa Rosa de Calamuchita *Santa Rosa de Calchines *Santa Rosa de Río Primero...
, Antonio Dias
Antônio Dias
Antônio Dias is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2006 is estimated to be 10,245 people living in a total area of 877.844 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion of Vale do Rio Doce and to the microregion of Ipatinga.-See also:* List of...
, Ivan Freitas, Alexandre Filho, Antonio Augusto Fontes, Jackson Ribeiro, Roberto Coura, José Rufino, Alice Vinagre, José Simeão Leal, Antonio Bento, Paulo Sérgio Duarte e Rubem Navarra – to list a few."
Culture
Events include:- Muriçocas do Miramar (February). Main street carnival held in the Wednesday prior to official carnival days.
- Vem Viver a Paraíba (January - February, name meaning "Come and Experience Paraiba") is a tourism fair and folklore performance event.
- Centro em Cena (January). Art and culture event.
- Folia de rua - Prévia Carnavalesca (February). Street carnival a few days prior to official carnival days.
- Carnaval da Melhor Idade (February) Carnival for senior citizens.
- Auto de Deus (April). Passion Play of the crucifixion of Christ.
- FENART João Pessoa (June). Fine-arts exhibition in the area.
- Feira Brasil mostra Brasil (July), a trade Fair featuring Brazilian products.
- Festa das Neves (August). A religious celebration of the Patroness of the city, Santa Maria Maggiore.
- Vaquejada do Cowboy (November). Rodeo-inspired event.
- Festa do Atum (December), a festival dedicated to tuna.
Sports
João Pessoa provides visitors and residents with various sport activities.- José Américo de Almeida FilhoAlmeidãoEstádio José Américo de Almeida Filho, usually known as Almeidão is a multi-purpose stadium in João Pessoa, Brazil. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It hosts the games of Botafogo , CSP, and Santos . The stadium holds 40,000. The stadium was built in 1975.The Almeidão is owned by...
Stadium - Evandro Lélis StadiumStadiumA modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
- Ronaldo Cunha Lima GymGymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium - Centro Sportivo Paraibano
- Auto Esporte Clube
- Botafogo Futebol ClubeBotafogo Futebol Clube (PB)Botafogo Futebol Clube, usually known as Botafogo, or as Botafogo da Paraíba, is a Brazilian football club from João Pessoa, Paraíba state.-History:...
Sister cities
João Pessoa's sister cities are:Aracaju
Aracaju
-Vegetation:Aracaju lies in tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 mm and 1,700 mm...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Salvador
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Maceió
Maceió
Maceió is the capital and the largest city of the coastal state Alagoas, Brazil. The name "maceió" is of Indian origin, and designates the natural spontaneously courses of water which flow out of the soil...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Ovar
Ovar
Ovar Municipality is a municipality in Aveiro District, Baixo Vouga Subregion in Portugal. It has a total area of 147.4 km² and a total population of 56,296 inhabitants, and 42,582 electors . The city of Ovar itself has a population of 16,849....
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Lisboa, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...