First element of the construction of the city of Natal, this fortress is one of most important built in Brazil. It is classified National Historic Heritage and constitutes the major attraction of the city. Some of its rooms were fitted out to redraw its history. Surrounded by waters in high tide, it is separated from the continent by a path made with stones.
The district of the low city 'Cidade Baixa' of Natal, possess even nowadays some beautiful examples of former commercial houses. This part has been renovated and today you can find numerous cafes and restaurants and a beautiful square, where is situated the luxurious theatre Alberto Maranhão.
Oldest theater of the city of Natal, created in 1898, it is a part of the artistical and historical heritage of the RN. It has the name of a great defender of the state culture.
With a very beautiful architecture neo-classic style, it has a magnificent central patio. Nowadays it is the place of theatre and musical performances.
Church Bom Jésus das Dores
Beautiful church situated on a small square close to the theatre.
Built in the middle of the XVIIIth century, the fourth church built in Natal possesses a very beautiful illumination and internal decoration.
Cidade Alta - Administration and Culture
This district is situated on a cliff which dominates the Potengi river and the district of Ribeira. It possesses the buildings of the administration and the culture. Except for its churches dating from the 17th and 18th century, its buildind is a part of the architecture from a period of embellishment and modernization of the city, the end of the 19th century, and beginning of the 20th century.
The City Hall of Natal is sheltered in a ancient very beautiful building og an eclectic style which contains the office of the mayor, certain dependences and the municipal offices.
Memorial Câmara Cascudo
Building of the state government dedicated to the biggest man of the
Rio Grande do Norte Culture. Professor, historian, folkloriste, ethnographer, book reviewer. The collection gathers its works, historic documents on its life and an important library.
Church Santo Antônio conhecida como Igreja do Galo.
Built in 1766, it is the best example of Barroco' architectural style. Situated next to a Franciscan convent, it possesses a magnificent altar sculptured in cedar and shelters the museum of sacred art which contains an important collection.
Schedules of visit: from Tuesday till Sunday from 9 am till 5 pm.
Church Nossa Senhora da Apresentação.
The ancient metropolitan church of the city, it dates from the 18th century. Recently renewed, it has also very beautiful architecture. There is sometimes program of concerts.
Palácio da Cultura - Pinacoteca
The Palace of the Culture is sheltered in a very beautiful building with neo-classic style, which possesses permanent and temporary exhibitions of state visual artists.
Paintings, photos, ceramic, plastic arts. To see also the attractive square which separates it from the 'Institute of Geography'.
Institut Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte
Of a very beautiful neo-classic architecture, inaugurated on March 29th, 1902, it keeps a memory of 25 thousand volumes, collection of magazines and maps on the colonial, imperial and republican history of the state and of Brazil.
Capitania das Artes
It is the head quarter of the Culture Foundation of Natal, and also a nucleous of art.
With a facade of the 19th century with neo-classic style, the culture center of the city shelters contemporary works of the local artists. It possesses a gallery of photos, a plastic arts center with permanent exhibitions and auction. You can have a very beautiful panoramic sight on Rio Potengi there.
The other monuments of Natal
Outside its historic districts, the city of Natal possesses some beautiful architectural examples of its historical heritage, rich in around 400 years of history.
Center of the tourism - Centro de Turismo
Ancient center of detention, it shelters a gallery of contemporary art, numerous shops of regional crafts and on its central place, a space of folk representation with its Forró ball every Thursday evening. From its restaurant, you will have a beautiful panoramic sight...
The famous people of the state, are the ones who contributed, protected and influenced the history and the culture of Rio Grande do Norte. They are the main representatives of the state culture and among others based the academy of letters; they contributed to the independence of Brazil, they pointed out by their inventions such as Auguste Sévero, or claimed the rights of the slaves and women such as Nísia Floresta.
Câmara Cascudo
Died in 1986, he was the biggest representative of the state culture and fouded with Aderbal de França, the Academy of Letters of Natal on November 14th, 1936.
Professor, historian, folklorist, ethnographer, book reviewer, his colossal work is exposed to the memorial Cãmara Cascudo in the Cidade Alta district.
Major works:
'Dicionário do Folclore Brasileiro'
'Alma patrícia' (1921)
'Contos tradicionais do Brasil' (1946)
'Estudioso do período das invasões holandesas'...
His reports, 'O tempo e eu' (1971) were posthumously edited.
Deífilo Gurgel
Born on October 22nd, 1926, in 'Areia Branca', he was a director of culture department, poet, journalist and writer. He studied the dances of the folklore Potiguar, called 'Folguedos Populares'. He wrote books on the state folk dances: 'Danças Folclóricas do Rio Grande do Norte', Manual do Boi Calemba ', etc...
Hélio Galvão
Lawyer, professor in several faculties, historian and poet. His works are admirable for the beauty of the style, the poetry of the writing and the ethnographical information. He published several columns under the name of 'Cartas da Praia', later others were grouped together in an entitled posthumous book 'Derradeiras Cartas da Praia & outras notas sobre Tibau do Sul' (1989). In 2007, all his chronicles were grouped together in a single volume 'Cartas da praia'. His main clause works as historian: 'História da Fortaleza da Barra do Rio Grande' (1979).
Nisia Floresta
Born in 1810 in Papari close to Natal, daughter of Portuguese and Brazilian, her name 'Floresta' comes from the site where she was born. With the age of 21 years she begins in letters, publishing articles about the women condition. Widow, with a daughter, she moved to Rio Grande do Sul, where she steers a feminine school. Then in Rio de Janeiro where she gave to schoolgirls a high-level education against the customs of time. She lived then in Paris, where her papers on the feminine emancipation were appreciated by Auguste Lecompte, father of the Positivism. During period in Brazil, she participated in a campaign for the abolition of the slavery. She died in Rouen on April 24th 1885.
Veríssimo de Melo
Born in July 9th, 1921, and died in August 18th, 1996 in Natal, he exercised the occupations of lawyer, judge, journalist and professor of ethnography. Member of the culture state council and the state academy of letters, he wrote several major works about the folklore, such as the essays and articles.
Major works :
'O conto folclórico no Brasil' (1976)
'Folclore brasileiro: Rio Grande do Norte' (1978)
'Folclore infantil' (1965) ...
Oswaldo Lamartine de Faria
Born November 15th, 1919 in Natal, he has administrator of 'Fazendas', Technnical of Bank and professor. On the Folklore, he published several articles and notes.
Major works :
'ABC da pescaria de açudes no Seridó' (1961)
'Algumas abelhas dos sertões do Seridó' (1964)
'Sertões do Seridó' (1980)
'Ferro de ribeiras do Rio Grande do Norte' (1984)...
'ABC da pescaria de açudes no Seridó' (1961)
'Algumas abelhas dos sertões do Seridó' (1964)
'Sertões do Seridó' (1980)
'Ferro de ribeiras do Rio Grande do Norte' (1984)...
Cafe Filho
João Fernandes Campos Café Filho Natal, was Born in Natal, on February 3rd, 1899. He was a journalist, lawyer and a politician. President of Brazil between August 24th, 1954 and November 8th, 1955, he finished the mandate of Getúlio Vargas. In 1933 he fouded the Party 'Social Nacionalista' (PSN) of RN. Some years later, the Party 'Republicano Progressista'. In 1934 and 1945 was elected Federal Deputy, and in 1950 was named vice-president of 'Getúlio Vargas'. After the presidency, he was a Minister of the 'Court of Contas' of Guanabara during all the decade of 1960. Died in Rio de Janeiro, February 20th, 1970. Museum 'Casa Café Filho', Street da Conceição, 601-Cidade Alta-Natal.
Augusto Severo
Augusto Severo de Albuquerque Maranhão, borned in Macaíba, on January 11th of 1864, State and Federal Deputy, was known internationally such as pioneer of the aviation beside Santos Dumont. Considered for its firm effort to conquer the sky, this 'Father of the Aviation', died in Paris, on May 12th, 1902, in the explosion of the dirigible Pax, which it had built.
Religions & Folklore - Customs & Traditions
Religions and Faiths
In 2000, the population of the state, about 2.750.000 was divided in : 84% of Catholics, 9% of Protestants, a little less than 1% of spiritualists and 6% unknown religion.
Folklore
During the year, there is an important number of religious feast and popular holidays, festivals, etc. which are privileged moments to visit cities and regions to know their cultures and folklores.
Calendar of feadst and events in the Rio Grande do Norte >> More...
The state possesses a rich Folklore arisen from the native, Portuguese and African traditions. with the time, these traditions, inheritance of the interbreeding and the fascination for the beauty of the landscapes, were source of inspiration for the big artists Potiguares through musics and popular dances...
The cultural events adapted themselves or disappear during the centuries, modelled by the television and the private interests today which create new cultural customs adopting the calendar of the popular feasts as well as the tourist calendar, as the 'Carnatal' or the feast of Saint Jean.
The western culture is naturally very present, but there are numerous myths older and often very popular as 'Bumba meu Boi' or feast as the Carnival with 'King Momo' whose previous history are multiple, Roman, pagans and Christian.
The feasts of Saint Jean and their local dances, formerly realized in 'fazendas', are still very present everywhere and animated. Other balls such as that of the 'Crowning of Black King' contain African dances accompanied with percussions.
The dances sometimes have a dramatic side, as the 'chegança', but all have a funny constituent and a musical group with characteristic instruments for every dance or demonstration. These festivities are generally realized during the feasts of Saint Jean, 'Festas Juninas', accompanied by fireworks and quadrilles and meals on base of corn, (Milho), as 'Canjica' and 'pamonha'.
The Folk theatre is present by 'Cheganças' and 'Fandango' or its by-product 'Marujada'. The first performance of 'Cheganças' occurred to the theater Alberto Maranhão in 1926 and created a scandal by its sensual dances.
The Christmas Cycle are traditional feasts of the 20s of the city of Natal, as that of the night of Wise Kings.. There are still some popular demonstrations. One of the most known is the one of 'Boi Calemba' or 'Bumba meu Boi' that goes from november to the beginning of January. This demonstration (Folguedo) tells through old songs the epic of the cowherds of the breeding of Northeast. The group is divided into 'Enfeitados' who represent the serious side of the spectacle and the 'Mascarados' the funny side. Nowadays the groups are from São Gonçalo, Pedro velho and Natal.
Fandango: dramatic play which tells the story of a boat 'Nau catarineta' of 40 men lost in the ocean. Mainly localized in Natal and in Canguaretama.
Chegança: dramatic Dances, representing a naval battle between Christians and Mourish, accompanied with percussions. Mainly located in Natal.
Congo: dramatic play with songs and dances which tell the story of an ambassadress of an African queen named 'Ginga', which asked the authorization to pass with her troops on the lands of king 'Coriongo' his Brother. Group 'Saiote' of São Gonçalo do Amarante and 'Calçola' of the village of Ponta Negra.
Pastoril: dances and songs of worship to Jesus. Formed by two wings, one of the blue cordon and another of the red cordon, with in the middle, Diana, calming their rivalry, Pastorzinho and the Clown. The most known group is from São Gonçalo do Amarante'.
Lapinha: Religious demonstration, formed by two cordons, as 'Pastoril'. The songs are inspired by the birth of Jesus and are accompanied with a small musical group of guitar (Violão), 'Cavaquinho' and 'Pandeiro'. The most known groups are 'Villaflor' and 'Maxaranguape'.
Caboclinhos: Dances where the extras are dressed in Indians equipped with bows and arrows colliding with the sound of a flute or 'Gaita'. Representations are made during the period of the carnival.
The most known group is the one of 'Ceará Mirim'.
Coco : Danse in the sound of drums and songs with a mixture of improvised songs. The most known is the one of 'Canguaretama'.
Bambelô: As the Coco danse, it is a danse, but with the rhythm influenced by the samba, where the extras dances by beating hands, with a dancer positioned in the center of the danse call the extras to dance with him. Representations are made during the period of the carnival. The most known group is the one of 'Asa Branca' of the district of 'Alecrim' in Natal.
Espontão: Dance of the africans(afro-brazilians), representing a dancer attacked by warriors provided with their lances and accompanied by a small musical group consisted of three drums and a flute. The most known group is the one of 'Caicó' which runs during the festivities of 'Nossa Senhora'.
These groups are more and more isolated and remain thanks to the efforts of old man 'chief', or during the festivals where they can represent themselves or in the tourist spectacles as that of 'Nís-Zàs-Tras' in Natal.
The legends
Every city and village has its own stories which were transformed into legends. Passed on orally and arisen from an anecdote or from an imaginary creation making a dark and mystic tale.
Natal: A lady of the society of Natal, the widow 'Machado', victim of a kind of leprosy which provoked the growth of its ears, people in their imagination stigmatized this woman transforming her into a person who eats the lever of the children, (Papa Figo).
Extremoz: The legend says that a man transporting in his cart a bell that should bo instalated in the church of the Extremoz village. Tired of the journey, he fell asleep and when the cart arrived at the level of the Extremoz lake, the oxen fell and the card reversed inside the water. At full moonnights people say that those who approache the lake can hear the voice of the carter and the sound of the bell.
Other faiths as 'Rezadeiras' or 'Benzedeiras' are based on the prayer and the blessings to cure diseases or the reading of the nature to predict if the rainy season will be good or not.
If the tree 'caatinga', cries, releasing some resin, the winter will be good and it will rain enough.
When some sort of cactus 'cactácea' does not give fruit, it is the signal of bad rainy year.
Rains in the daytime of Santa Luzia, in December 13th, is the sign of a good winter.
If in January, the cat delivers and eats its youngs, it is the signal of big drought.
The Vaquejada
One of the most ancient traditions of the Potiguar culture, 'Vaquejada', is a sport that consists in knocking down the bull by the tail, with a rider attracting the bull, while the other one ties it up. The winning pair is the one which is the fastest or the most spectacular. Vaquejadas takes place all year long and mainly in the countryside.
The literature of Cordel
The Cordel Literature is also an important part of Potiguar tradition and in the musics of 'Ciranda', songs and cradle songs for children. The literature of cordel is constituted by poetries presented in the form of brochures, where the writer counts a facts of lifetime, historic events or fantastic tales. These tales are composed by numerous vers of four strophes, always rhiming.
The most impressive vers and thus most read and listened are the ones about heroes and tragic romances or magic stories.
One of the biggest popular poets was Fabião Hermenegildo Ferreira da Rocha (1848-1928), called 'Fabião das Queimadas', known to be the poet of 'Vaquejadas'. He left a large number of poetries about bulls and horses of his region. One of its most known romances is 'Romance do Boi da Mão de Pau'.
The tradition of the Northeast is being more oral than written; this Literature of Cordel is often sung in the challenges 'Desafio', where two singers are in confrontation in a poetic duel based on these romances but also by improvisation, or by 'repentistas', singers of middle-of-the-road popular songs often in duets singing freely around a compulsory subject.
Crafts & Art
Bordado, Crochê
There is an important production of various local handicrafts, suc as the small bottles of sand colored from Tibau, jewels, embroidery of the countryside such as Caicó and cotton products from the Sérido region.
The embroidery 'Bordado' activity which employs many workforce from the Seridó.
Hook and laces, 'Rendas e Labirinto': executed by women often gathered in associative groups and sold on markets and crafts centers. Specialty of the coastal áreas such as Nisia Floresta, Touros and Tibau do Sul.
Crafts of vegetable manufacturing
The straw of 'carnaùba' is usually used in the braids and doormats manufacturing, intermediary products which enter in the preparation with bags, baskets, hats and every type of utilitarian pieces. Speciality of the regions of the North, the valley of Açu, where you can find 'Carnaubas'. See Floresta Ciliar de Carnaúba.
The crafts in vegetable fibers is obtained by manufactoring the fiber (Sisal) of a plant called Agavel.
The 'Sisal' is washed, dried, brushed and transformed into cord.
This activity concerns a large number of artisants for the manufacturing of many things included furniture.
The fiber of coconut palm 'Coqueiro' is also used on the coast for the manufacturing of crafts baskets objects.
The reed 'Juncos' of lakes is dried in the shadow and used for the manufacturing of tapestries, bags, carpets, cords for sandals, etc....
Ceramic
The ceramic is produced on base of clay and cooked in ovens with wood. It is used for decoration objects such as vases, jars and kitchenware.
Other products of crafts
Colored sands bottles: The colored sands are taken from beaches and cliffs of the state mainly Tibau in the north. After a selective collection bottles are manually performed with also use of a straw.
Art and Galleries
You can observe the Potiguar art through its artists.
See the part: Historic and cultural monuments.
Culture and traditions of regions
Region of Pipa and Tibau
Folk demonstrations
Municipality of Tibau do Sul 'Pastoril of Cabaceiras:' version of the Pastorale of French origin.
Pipa 'Boi dos reis','Zambê','Côco de Roda','batucadas','dramas','Lapinha'
Municipality of Canguaretama 'Fandango' , 'Coco'
Crafts
Municipality of Tibau do Sul Ceramic objects, sculptures in ônix
Municipality of Baia Formosa Work in the hook and the bags in fragments of materials.
Region South of Natal
Folk demonstrations
Municipality of Georgino Avelino (Malembá)
Folk group 'Marujada': fisherman’s songs wearing white cloths.
Crafts
Municipality of Georgino Avelino (Malembá)
On base of coconut mattings and shell of oysters, hooks
Region of Natal
Folk demonstrations
The diverse folkloric groups often isolated, can represent themselves during festivals, or in the tourist Natal spectacles such as the one of 'Nis-Zàs-Tras' (See service leisure).
District of Ponta Negra Congos : Group 'Calçola'
Other Natal districts 'Bambelô' : group 'Asa Branca' of the Alecrim district
'Bumba-Meu-Boi' or 'Boi calemba' : Group 'Pedro velho'
'Chegança'
Crafts
District of Ponta Negra Work in the hook and labyrinth
Bairro de ponta Negra Congos : Grupo 'Calçola'
Other Natal district Bambelô : grupo 'Asa Branca' of the Alecrim district
Bumba-Meu-Boi ou Boi calemba : Grupo 'Perdo velho'
Crafts
District of Ponta Negra Work in the hook and labyrinth
Region North of Natal
Folk demonstrations
Municipality of São Gonçalo do Amarante 'Pastoril'
Municipality of Extremoz (Santa Rita and Barra do Rio)
'Boi dos Reis', 'Lapinha', 'Congo', 'Camaleão'
Municipality of Maxaranguape (maxaranguape till Maracajaú)
'Lapinha'
Municipality of Ceará Mirim (Jacumã till Muriú-Prainha)
'Caboclinhos'
Municipality of Rio do Fogo (Pititinga till Rio do Fogo)
'Boi dos Reis', 'Lapinha', 'Fandango', 'Pastoril','Mamulengo'
Crafts
Municipality of Rio do Fogo (Pititinga till Rio do Fogo)
Preparation of objects for the fishing
Hook and Labyrinth
Region Touros until Galinhos
Folk demonstrations
Municipality of Touros 'Bumba-meu-boi','bandeirinhas','coco de roda','pastoril','capelinha'
Municipality of São Miguel do Gostoso 'Bumba-meu-boi','capelinha','pastoril','coco de roda','Boi-de-reis'
Municipality of Pedra Grande (Exu Queimado)
'Fandango', 'Coco de Roda'
Crafts
Beach of Carnaubinha Objects conceived on base of coconut mattings or shells
Work of labyrinth
Workshops of painters. Subjects: Nature and everyday life
Municipality of Touros Work of Labyrinth, doll in rags, Work on wood
Municipality of São Miguel do Gostoso Association of the producers of 'Gostosó', Maceió beach
Straw of Carnaúbas, wood, work on hook and Labyrinths
Municipality of Caiçara Produced for the fishing, the work on hook and labyrinth
Folk demonstrations in the region Seridó
Folk demonstrations.
Municipality of Caicó 'Espontão': Representations during the festivities of nossa Senhora
