Culture and recreation

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Natal is your gateway to many attractions of the city and the state of Rio Grande do Norte:

Carnival and Carnatal

Carnatal, is one of the largest off-season carnivals in Brazil.

The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is carnival time in Brazil. Carnival in Natal is not big, but “Carnatal” is a different matter: it’s one of the largest off-season carnivals in Brazil.^[22] Organizing off-season Carnavais is not a Natal-only habit. Fortaleza has “Fortal”, Recife has “Recifolia”, Natal has “Carnatal“. Carnatal takes place sometime in November or December. It has happened in the streets around Machadão Stadium (traffic around the stadium changes radically during Carnatal days). The transit department isolates about 3 km (1.8 mi) of streets,^[23] creating a ring, along which the party takes place. During the days of party, a huge truck (called “trio elétrico“), with a band on the top and sound boxes all around, drives slowly along the streets. The crowd follows the trio elétrico singing, dancing, jumping to the sound of the music. To be allowed to follow the truck, one must buy admittance to one of the several “blocos” (block). A bloco is an enterprise which obtains permission to participate in Carnatal, hires the band, sells admitance and controls access.

Dunas State Ecological Park

Dunas Park, considered the second largest urban park in Brazil.^[24]

The Dunas Park is considered the second largest urban park in Brazil.^[25] It includes 1,172 hectares of land, and allows observation of several vegetable and animal species, which are typical of the Atlantic Forest. The tour is along a trail, accompanied by trained guides. The park also has a jogging track, and stays open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday.

Museums

Museums in Natal include: Museu de Arte Sacra, Museu de Cultura Popular, Espaço Cultural Palácio Potengi, Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte, Pinacoteca do Rio Grande do Norte, Museum Camara Cascudo, Memorial Camara Cascudo.

Natal Aquarium

Seahorses in Natal Aquarium.

The Natal Aquarium was founded and is run by a family of biologists and retired environmentalists. Besides the exhibit, the aquarium also serves as a surgery center for sea animals. The Aquarium is located between the Oceânica Avenue and the beach. The Aquarium exhibits about 60 marine species.^[26] There are about 30 small aquariums, where the species are put individually or in small groups of two or three species. Most species were collected at the Brazilian and Rio Grande do Norte coast. Species include several kinds of fish (including piranhas), sea horses, shrimps, lobsters, stingrays, octopus, etc. In a refrigerated aquarium, there is a couple of penguins.

The world’s largest cashew tree.

Forte dos Reis Magos, fortress built in 1598 and is now a museum.

The Largest Cashew Tree in the World

The Maior cajueiro do mundo is the biggest cashew tree in the world. In 1994, it entered the Guiness book as the tree which covers the largest area, 8,400 square meters;^[27] larger than a typical football pitch. Due to a genetic mutation, the branches of this tree grow outwards rather than upwards; thus when a branch touches the ground, roots are not created, rather a new ramification starts to grow.^[28] There is even a gazebo located in the cashew, a popular attraction amongst tourists.

Forte dos Reis Magos

Forte dos Reis Magos or Fortaleza dos Reis Magos is a medieval fortress that was the first milestone of the city – founded on 25 December 1599 – on the right side of the bar of the river Potenji (today near the Ponte Newton Navarro). It received its name based on the date of commencement of its construction, 6 January 1598, at Epiphany Catholic calendar.

Natal City Park

Natal City Park.

The Natal City Park Dom Nivaldo Monte, or simply the City Park is a urban park. Inaugurated on July 21, 2008 with architectural project of Oscar Niemeyer. It has a tower that gives it up and see the city from on high, and has a museum and restaurant.

Festa Junina (Saint John Festival)

Festa Junina was introduced to Northeastern Brazil by the Portuguese for whom St John’s day (also celebrated as Midsummer Day in several European countries), on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. Differently from what happens on the European Midsummer Day, the festivities in Brazil do not take place during the summer solstice but during the tropical winter solstice. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of St Anthony’s day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter’s day. During these fifteen days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing in the streets. Typical foods and beverages are served. It should be noted that, as during Carnival, these festivities involve wearing costumes (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Similar to what happens on Midsummer and St John’s Day in Europe, bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil. Festa Junina in other cities of the state, especially in the city of Mossoró which gathers thousands of people during the month of June.

Newton Navarro bridge

Newton Navarro bridge.

Alberto Maranhão Theatre (on the inside of it) is part of Historic Center.

The Newton Navarro bridge is one of the highest bridges in Brazil and has over a gorgeous sunset seen from Potengi River. She makes the connection with the beaches of the north coast of the state. In addition to unburden the city traffic, the bridge became a tourist attraction because of its large size.

Historic Center

The Natal Historic Center it comprises an area of approximately 201,278 m², which are included 150 buildings of various styles, including colonial architecture, neoclassical, art-deco and modernist. This area comprises the districts of Ribeira and Cidade Alta, which are the oldest neighborhoods of the city, which have characteristics of the first centuries of the history of Brazil, highlighting important aspects of Portuguese colonization.

Barreira do Inferno

The Barreira do Inferno Launch Center is the first base to launch rockets from Brazil. With the construction of another center in Brazil, today, it only launches rockets, small and medium businesses and is open to visitation of tourists to know the rockets, but must make an appointment to visit the center.

Parrachos de Maracajaú

Parrachos de Maracajaú.

The Parrachos de Maracajaú of coral reefs are the seven kilometers of beach in Maracajaú, forming natural pools. Occupy an area of 13 km (8 mi), excellent for snorkeling in the coral diving underwater that, at low tide, touch the surface. It is one of the places in Brazil where the sea is the most crystalline and suitable for diving. The beach of Maracajaú is 60 km (37 mi) from Natal. In Maracajaú also a water park, the Ma-Noa Park.

Genipabu

Dromedary camel in Genipabu Beach.

Genipabu (or Jenipabu) is a beach, a complex of dunes, a lagoon and an area of environmental protection (APA) located in Natal capital city, one of the most famous post-cards of the Brazilian state Rio Grande do Norte. It is a huge dunes and a lagoon of fresh water, with strong attraction for tourism. The region has a good infrastructure of hotels, inns, restaurants, beach tents, tours of “buggies”, rafts and dromedaries. It is played in the dunes around the lake called “esquibunda” stakeholders sit down the dunes on top of planks of wood, to dive in the waters of the lagoon. The tours of “buggies” are offered in the local “with emotion” or “no emotion”, according to the degree of risk, it is recommended, however, are chosen accredited professionals responsible for security not only of tourists, but the middle – environment.

Ponta Negra and Via Costeira

Ponta Negra Beach.

Ponta Negra is a famous beach and a neighborhood located in the Brazilian city of Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. In the extreme south of the beach, is located in Morro do Careca (Bald Hill), a large dune. The extreme north of the beach, is located at Via Costeira (Coastal Way), a road in the middle of coastal dunes that connect the various beaches of the city. The beach is completely urbanized and there are several points shops, restaurants, bars and night clubs. The sand itself is lined with “tents”, or huts, that serve food and drinks to beachgoers day and night. A common sight on the beach are “jangadas”, simple, multicolored, local fishing boats typical of northeastern Brazil. The Via Costeira (Coastal Way) is a great avenue built next to the dunes and beaches of the city, including making the connection of several beaches in the state.

Pipa Beach

Pipa Beach.

The Pipa Beach is located 85 km from Natal and completely away from urban centers. Paradise a beach that attract thousands of tourists every year.

Other attractions

As Natal means Christmas in Portuguese, possibly in December are some attractions such as concerts, plays, meeting writers and the traditional burning of fires, and the city be decorated with Christmas purposes.