The capital city of Sergipe State

Curiously, Aracaju’s name has nothing to do with Caju (cashew nut fruit, a delicious fruit that is native to Brazil). In fact, the name stems from the Tupi language and means “The Macaws’ Cashew Tree”.

Aracaju was the second planned Capital in the Brazilian State. Until then, cities had adapted to their natural surroundings and landscapes, making the urban panorama reasonably irregular. Aracaju was one of the first examples of geometric planning; its roads were drawn upon squared paper to open up at the river Sergipe. Interestingly, the avenue at the edge of the river is called Avenida Beira Mar (Seaside Avenue).

The streets and avenues are well organised and tree-lined. The beaches are long with sandy banks. At the waterfront, Orla de Atalaia has attractions for all tastes: artificial lakes, an oceanarium with many marine species, sports facilities, as well as a vast selection of hotels, inns, bars and restaurants.

Aracaju was elected the Capital with the Best Quality of Life in Brazil due to its vast array of outdoor spaces for practising sports, as well as its 100 kilometres of cycle lanes.

Aracaju’s newly revitalised historic centre gives a fantastic insight into how life used to be here:

• Mercados Antônio Franco e Thales Ferraz: a former market that has recently been transformed into a cultural and leisure space
• Praça Fausto Cardoso: the oldest square in the capital
• Parque Teófilo Dantas: a park which is famous for its artisans fair
• Palácio Olímpio Campos: a museum that was originally a Palace
• The Tourism centre
• The Artisan Museum of Aracaju
• Ponte do Imperador, a grande harbour built-in 1859 for the arrival of the Emperor Dom Pedro II and his wife Empress Dona Teresa Cristina, who visited Sergipe in 1860
• Igreja São Salvador, the first church in Aracaju, built in 1857
• The Metropolitan Cathedral, whose domed ceiling is decorated with gorgeous 19th century paintings

Airport

Aracaju’s airport is called Aeroporto de Aracaju – Santa Maria it is 12 kilometres from the centre of the city.

Distance from other cities:

Recife: 503 kilometres; Salvador: 356 kilometres; Maceió: 267 kilometres; Brasília: 1,737 kilometres; Rio de Janeiro: 1,827 kilometres; São Paulo: 2,129 kilometres.