Centro Historico de Joao Pessoa

Welcome to the Centro Histórico of João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba and the third oldest city in Brazil. Founded in 1585, the city did not begin on the shores of the Atlantic but on the banks of the Sanhauá River. …

We begin at the Praça João Pessoa, also known as the 'Praça dos Três Poderes' because it is surrounded by the seats of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the state government. Here you will find the Palácio da…

The Igreja de São Francisco and the adjacent Convent of Saint Anthony form one of the most important baroque complexes in Brazil. Construction began in 1589, just four years after the city's founding, though it underwent…

The Parque Solon de Lucena, universally known as 'The Lagoa,' is the postcard image of João Pessoa. This large, circular lagoon was originally part of a Jesuit farm and was known as the 'Lagoa dos Irerês,' named after the local…

Located on Rua General Osório, the Mosteiro de São Bento is another pillar of the city's colonial religious architecture. Construction began around 1600, making it one of the oldest Benedictine foundations in the country. …

Inaugurated in 1889, the year Brazil transitioned from an Empire to a Republic, the Teatro Santa Roza is the oldest theater in the state and one of the oldest in the country. Located in Praça Pedro Américo, it is a magnificent…

Our final stop is the Hotel Globo, located in the Largo de São Pedro overlooking the Sanhauá River. Built in 1929 and operating as a luxury hotel until the 1950s, it hosted celebrities and dignitaries during the city's golden age…

As the light fades over the historic rooftops of João Pessoa, we conclude our tour of a city that has gracefully aged over nearly four and a half centuries. We have walked from the political squares of the 'Three Powers' to the…