Joao Pessoa tourist information

João Pessoa, sometimes called the city where the sun comes first, is located at the easternmost point of the Americas at 34º 47' 38" west longitude and 7º 9' 28" south latitude. Local residents call this easternmost point Ponta do Seixas.

João Pessoa is the capital of Paraíba, a state in the northeast region of Brazil and home of some of the most noted Brazilian poets and writers: Augusto dos Anjos (1884-1908), José Américo de Almeida (1887-1980) and José Lins do Rego (1901-1957). It is the state's largest and most important city, with a population of about 660,000 (about one sixth of the state's population - 2005 estimate). Its metropolitan area comprises three other satellite cities and about 270,000 people.

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.

João Pessoa has approximately 40 km of beaches (both residential and savage), and small natural islands. The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism (BMT) notes that "on the outskirts of the capital are the most popular beaches in the State, such as Tambaú and Manaíra. Nearby it is possible to find one of the few Brazilian nudist beaches (naturism) that is officially recognized, Tambaba." In addition, BMT enphasizes that "full of parks and avenues packed with fruit and ornamental trees, João Pessoa has many forest reserves, including the coconut trees and various species of trees which constitute the maritime margin landscape – attracting thousands of tourists every year."

João Pessoa has many green areas scattered among its avenues, parks, and residential neighborhoods, which all make it very pleasant and "the 2nd greenest city in the world" with more than 7 square kilometres of forested land, losing only to Paris. It gained this distinction in 1992, after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations.

João Pessoa mixes modern buildings with historic ones from colonial times, and hosts important museums and cultural institutions. The Church of San Francisco and the Convent Santo Antônio are located in an historic center and are landmarks of Brazilian baroque architecture, dating back to the XVIII century. The Church of San Francisco has a museum that exhibits a vast collection of sacred and popular art.

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