João Pessoa - Centro Hiastórico

After an early afternoon drink at the rooftop bar, we were picked up by our Uber driver, Jaime, who took us on a tour of the João Pessoa historic district. On the way, we passed a small pond, named Lagoa Lucena. The city itself is named after João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, a Brazilian politician who was assassinated in 1930.

From its origins as a modest trading post along the Paraíba do Norte River, the city has grown into a modern coastal destination, with high-rise buildings lining the beachfront. The regional economy is still rooted in agriculture, with sugarcane, coconuts, and a variety of tropical fruits playing a major role. In recent years, however, lower operating costs compared to larger Brazilian cities have attracted data and call centers, customer service operations, as well as a growing number of small tech companies and startups.

At the heart of the old town square stands a statue of João Pessoa, surrounded by two active government buildings, the original university, and a former government building that now serves as a museum. Beyond that, we passed several churches and the Hotel Globo, once the town’s first luxury hotel, built in 1929. Today, it stands abandoned and in visible decline, much like several other historic structures we saw along the way.

All in all, the tour was pleasant, though not particularly memorable. We ended the afternoon at a breezy beach café, recommended by Marli, enjoying cold beers and light snacks.

The late-night dinner at the hotel rooftop restaurant seemed like the easy and perfect place to round off this interesting day.

For tomorrow, we are planning to explore a few beaches 🏖️ to the south.Read more