Feira de Santana Attractions
Feira de Santana
Feira de Santana, 116km/72mi north-west of Salvador, lies on the boundary between the Recìncavo Baiano, the fertile coastal lowlands round the Baía de Todos os Santos, a region of moist heat, and the arid sertão. After passing through the town BR 116 continues north, from Paulo Afonso following the course of the Rio São Francisco. BR 324 and BR 407 provide a link with Juazeiro, 395km/245mi north. Other roads run through the Chapada Diamantina to the banks of the Rio São Francisco.
Bus station
Avenida Presidente Dutra
History
Feira de Santana grew out of a settlement founded in the 18th century near the chapel of São Domingo and Santana (SS Dominic and Anne) which lay on the drove road from the sertão and developed into an important trading center. Later a regular market was established. In 1873 Feira de Santana was chartered as a town. Its cattle market is now one of the largest in the country.
Feira de Santana, 116km/72mi north-west of Salvador, lies on the boundary between the Recìncavo Baiano, the fertile coastal lowlands round the Baía de Todos os Santos, a region of moist heat, and the arid sertão. After passing through the town BR 116 continues north, from Paulo Afonso following the course of the Rio São Francisco. BR 324 and BR 407 provide a link with Juazeiro, 395km/245mi north. Other roads run through the Chapada Diamantina to the banks of the Rio São Francisco.
Bus station
Avenida Presidente Dutra
History
Feira de Santana grew out of a settlement founded in the 18th century near the chapel of São Domingo and Santana (SS Dominic and Anne) which lay on the drove road from the sertão and developed into an important trading center. Later a regular market was established. In 1873 Feira de Santana was chartered as a town. Its cattle market is now one of the largest in the country.
Churches
Churches
Feira de Santana has a number of 18th century churches, including the Cathedral of the Senhora Santana (St Anne; 1732) and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (1707), whose tower is faced with porcelain tiles from Macao. The Baroque church of São José (18th century) now houses the Museum of Sacred Art (Museu de Arte Sacra).
Feira de Santana has a number of 18th century churches, including the Cathedral of the Senhora Santana (St Anne; 1732) and Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (1707), whose tower is faced with porcelain tiles from Macao. The Baroque church of São José (18th century) now houses the Museum of Sacred Art (Museu de Arte Sacra).
Events
Events
Among the most attractive of the town's festivals are the Micareta (Carnival) 15 days after Easter, with blocos (carnival clubs), afoxés (devotees of Afro-Brazilian cults who parade through the streets to rhythmic singing) and trios elétricos (music groups playing on converted lorries); the Guitarists' Festival of the North-East in August; and the Festa da Kailândia (a district of Feira de Santana) on December 22nd-31st, with the reisado (procession of the Three Kings, with dancing) on Christmas night, the capoeira and other dances such as the samba da roda and maculelà, and typical local food and drink.
Among the most attractive of the town's festivals are the Micareta (Carnival) 15 days after Easter, with blocos (carnival clubs), afoxés (devotees of Afro-Brazilian cults who parade through the streets to rhythmic singing) and trios elétricos (music groups playing on converted lorries); the Guitarists' Festival of the North-East in August; and the Festa da Kailândia (a district of Feira de Santana) on December 22nd-31st, with the reisado (procession of the Three Kings, with dancing) on Christmas night, the capoeira and other dances such as the samba da roda and maculelà, and typical local food and drink.
Mercado de Arte Popular
Mercado de Arte Popular
The Mercado de Arte Popular and the Centro de Abastecimento sell hand-made leather, wood and textile products.
The Mercado de Arte Popular and the Centro de Abastecimento sell hand-made leather, wood and textile products.
Regional Museum
The Museu Regional de Feira de Santana, established on the initiative of Assis Chateaubriand, who was also the moving spirit behind the Museum of Art in São Paulo, has a good collection of modern and contemporary painting. It has thirty works by contemporary British artists, including Howard Hodgkin, Neville King, John Piper, Alan Davie and Graham Sutherland.
