João Pessoa |
João Pessoa is considered the third oldest urban center of Brazil, just after
Salvador and São Vicente. It was founded by Portuguese in 1556, just before the French invade the coast side of Brazil, still a colony at that
time.
Then, to protect the territory, the Portuguese built, at the mouth of River Paraíba,
São Felipe Fortress, in 1585, exactly to oppose the French embarkations. So, the settlement that surged there was named Filipéia.
In 1634, the place was invaded again, this time by Dutch. After being dominated,
the city then received another name: Friederstadt. The Dutch remained there for 20 years, until being expelled by André Vidal de Negreiros and
Fernandes Vieira, starting to be called as Parahyba settlement.
The city downtown has innumerous monuments that remit to the 16th and
17th centuries, but many tourists don’t go there. One of the main motives is because the historic center is away from the coast side.
Due to the Constant attacks, the Portuguese used River Paraíba to go inland. The river has enough depth to allow the navigations of caravels and
the settlement, this way, were more protected. So, the historic city was built bathed by fluvial waters. One of the positive aspects is that,
with this, the coast side remained intact.
The actual name was given in honor to Governor João Pessoa de Albuquerque,
candidate to vice-president of Getúlio Vargas, in 1930. But, he was murdered and his death served as motive to “Revolução de 1930”. The
population got entirely upset with the death of the governor and, as a way to honor him, the city received his name. |
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