The route of Brazil’s discovery reveals five important beaches and debunks the official version of history.
Locals challenge the official version that the sailors arrived first at Porto Seguro.
In 1500, when Portugal and Spain were exploring the ocean in search of new lands, 13 caravels led by the Portuguese nobleman Pedro Álvares Cabral sighted land in the Monte Pascoal region.
In fact, the Portuguese thought it was all just a big hill, until Pedro Álvares Cabral suspected that there was also a strip of land and called the place Ilha de Vera Cruz.
After further Portuguese expeditions to the region, it was discovered that it was not an island but a huge continental area, and the name was changed again to Terra de Santa Cruz.
After the discovery of brazilwood in 1511, the region became known by its current name: Brazil.
Although almost exclusively used in connection with the voyage of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the term “discovery of Brazil” can also be applied to the arrival of the expedition of the Spanish navigator and explorer Vicente Yáñez Pinzón, who reached Cape St. Augustine, a promontory located in the present-day state of Pernambuco, on 26 January 1500. This is the oldest documented voyage to Brazilian territory.
Various points along the northeast coast are vying to be recognised as the true place of Brazil’s discovery.
Route of the Discovery of Brazil: Facts and Curiosities
1. Porto Seguro – Bahia
Considered the official site of the arrival of the Portuguese on 22 April 1500, the city of Porto Seguro has tourist attractions dedicated to this historic event, such as the Memorial of the Epic of Discovery, where tourists can see a replica of one of the caravels of Pedro Álvares Cabral’s squadron.
Pedro Alvares Cabral - A descoberta do Brasil05:44
Porto Seguro é o início do Brasil04:39
Rota do Descobrimento08:43
Caminhos do Descobrimento12:02
VISITA GUIADA pelo CENTRO HISTÓRICO de PORTO SEGURO05:05
2. Barra do Cahy in Prado (BA)
You only have to talk to the people of Prado to see how disgusted they are with the official version of history.
According to the locals, Pedro Álvares Cabral is said to have mentioned evidence in Pero Vaz de Caminha’s letter that points to Prado as the birthplace of the discovery.
Por que Barra do Cahy, na Bahia, é a primeira praia do Brasil?
Barra do Cahy - Drone
Barra do Cahy - Reportagem02:44
Barra do Cahy - Drone03:51
Barra do Cahy, there is a plaque with an excerpt from the charter, indicating that this is the first beach in Brazil.
3. Marco Beach in São Miguel do Gostoso (RN)
In 1501, navigators placed the first stone marker here to prove Portugal’s ownership of the newly discovered lands.
Today, those arriving at the beach will find a replica of the monument – the original is in the Fortaleza dos Reis Magos in Natal.
Researchers from the state of Rio Grande do Sul argue that it was on this stretch of coast that the Portuguese first arrived.
Among the arguments in favour of this thesis were the shorter distance from the Cape Verde Islands, the starting point of the squadrons, and the conditions of sea currents and winds.
The idea was taken up by the Rio Grande do Norte Tourism Board, which launched the “Everything Starts Here” campaign in 2018.
4. Cabo de Santo Agostinho – Pernambuco
In 2000, the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho celebrated the 500th anniversary of its discovery almost three months earlier than the rest of the country, on 26 January.
Cabo de Santo Agostinho PE - Guia de Turismo
On this date in 1500, the navigator Vicente Yañez Pinzón is said to have reached a point on the northeast coast, which he named Cabo de Santa María de la Consolación.
The Spaniard would have been the first European to set foot on Brazilian soil. According to some historians, the landing took place at Cabo de Santo Agostinho, 34 kilometres from Recife.
5. Ponta do Mucuripe in Fortaleza (CE)
There are also researchers who argue that Pinzón actually arrived at Ponta do Mucuripe, where the port of Fortaleza is today.
The strongest historical evidence that the Spaniard passed through the region is a map drawn by the cartographer Juan de la Cosa in October 1500.
The contours on the document indicate knowledge of the Ceará coast.
In Fortaleza there is a neighbourhood called Vicente Pinzón, in honour of the navigator.
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