João Pessoa facts for kids

João Pessoa
João Pessoa
	Municipality
The Municipality of João Pessoa
	Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of America
; Flag	; Seal
	Nickname(s): Green City; The City where the sun rises first
Founded	August 5, 1585

João Pessoa is the capital of the state of Paraíba in Brazil. It was founded in 1585 and it is also known as the city where the sun rises first, because it is the easternmost city in the Americas. Its easternmost point is known as Ponta do Seixas. The city is often referred as "the second greenest in the world".

It is the state's largest city, with an estimated population of 801,718 of inhabitants. Its metropolitan area comprises eight other satellite cities (Bayeux, Cabedelo, Conde, Lucena, Santa Rita, and others), totalling 1,223,000 of inhabitants.

The new "Estação Ciência, Cultura e Artes" (Science, Culture and Art Station), located at the most eastern point of the Americas (Ponta das Seixas), is both an educational and cultural institution as well as a national landmark.

The capital of Paraíba received in 2017 the title of creative city by UNESCO, placing João Pessoa, as "Brazilian city of handicrafts". The recognition of the capital João Pessoa, places it on the Brazilian tourist route for the richness of its popular art. This recognition had great contribution and influence.

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 mixes modern buildings with historic ones from colonial times, and hosts important museums and cultural institutions. The Church of San Francisco is located in a historic center and is a landmark of Brazilian baroque architecture. Its museum exhibits a vast collection of sacra and popular art.

João Pessoa is home to the Federal University of Paraíba - UFPB, which offers degrees in areas such as medicine, engineering, law, arts, and technology. In addition to the UFPB, other smaller private universities, attract many students from within Paraíba and from other states.

João Pessoa is the third oldest city in Brazil. Previously named Frederikstadt by the Dutch and Parahyba by the Portuguese, the city was renamed for a governor of Paraíba state João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque after his assassination in 1930.

Images for kids

Jaguaribe River
Map of Frederikstadt by Johannes Vingboons 1665
One of the buildings of the State University of Paraíba
Cabo Branco lighthouse at Ponta do Seixas in southeastern region of the city
Solon de Lucena Park's lagoon at night in the northwestern region (the downtown zone or district)
João Pessoa's evening skyline (center-eastern region)
Saint Francis Church and Saint Anthony Convent (northern region)
Tambaú beach
João Pessoa, Brazil. Neighborhood of Tambaú
Historic Center of João Pessoa