Paraíba State
The name
comes from the combination of the Tupi words pa’ra (river) and a’íba
(unsuitable for navigation). But after all, is it Paraíba or paradise? It is
hard to say when one takes into consideration all the attractions of the
Brazilian state located on the farthest eastern portion of the Americas: the
Ponta do Seixas, on Cabo Branco beach, where, according to a traditional
saying, “the sun rises first”. Land of the sun indeed, and of an enviable
shore; but also of other historical, ecological and cultural beauties.
Before it was finally taken by the Portuguese, the region was nearly seized by the Normans. In the mid l6th century, Norman smugglers, with the help of the Potiguara Indians, used the anchorage sites of Cabedelo, in the Traição and Cabo Branco bays, to take the best quality Brazil - wood from the Brazilian coast, as well as cotton and wild animal hides. In 1585 a Portuguese settler by the name of João Tavares joined Tabajara chief Pirajibe and managed to establish a settlement 22 km far from the mouth of the Paraíba River. The settlement was first known as Nossa Senhora das Neves, later becoming Filipéia (in honour of Philip II, King of both Spain and Portugal). In the following century, during the Dutch invasion, it was named Frederikstadt, before becoming Paraíba and finally, in 1930, João Pessoa.
The capital
of the state of Paraíba is rich in historical monuments and contemporary
buildings. Among the examples of baroque-style constructions which impress all
tourists are the Church of Mercy, built by Duarte da Silveira in 1602, which
preserves its original structure; the 1608 Church of St. Francis, with tiled
walls and the floor carpeted with antique flagstones; the Church and the Monastery
of São Bento, concluded in 1716 and built of stone blocks and limestone,
masonry and wood.
Other
important historical landmarks in the state are the Fortress of Santa Catarina
(built in 1585 of limestone and whale oil), located in Cabedelo, and the Casa
da Pólvora, located in the capital, which witnessed many struggles and
invasions on the coast.
Nevertheless,
the greatest enchantment comes from the sea. In addition to the beach of Cabo
Branco, with its Lighthouse belvedere, the beaches of Tambaú, Manaíra and Bessa
are among the most urbanized on the coast, with lukewarm, crystal-clear waters.
In Tambaü, two kilometres away from the coast, lie the beautiful reef
formations, with its natural pools known as Picãozinho. At these beaches one
finds the highest concentration of hotels, flats, lodgings and the entire
infrastructure which guarantee an agreeable and cosy stay in the region.