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The colors of the facades of houses and buildings preserve the identity of Northeastern colonial architecture. Many houses, buildings, and especially churches, monasteries, squares, and streets, date back to the time when Brazil was predominantly colonized by Portuguese.
Additionally, several other peoples, such as Dutch, Jews, English, French, Arabs, Spanish, Russians, and Africans, have left their marks on Brazilian architecture.
The Northeastern culture, present in each state of the region, enchants with the beauty and appreciation of each element. Whether in gastronomy, craftsmanship, music, or nature, the Northeast of Brazil attracts attention from different places in the country and the world, who fall in love with the region’s charms, which deserve to be appreciated and valued.
Northeastern architecture has a history full of beauties and characteristics with a significant influence from Portuguese architecture.
With the European colonization of Brazil, the Portuguese architectural style dominated the region, especially in sacred architecture, with the luxury and richness of details in the decoration of churches.
History of Baroque Art
História da Arte Barroca
In the case of houses, they initially had simpler characteristics, and even the large farmhouses did not feature many decorative elements. However, they already explored the large internal spaces and verandas.
Luxury and ostentation in residences began to become more evident with the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in Brazil, which landed in Salvador in 1808 and soon after moved to Rio de Janeiro.
With the advance of urbanization in the 17th century and the need to protect homes from pirate attacks along the coast, row houses emerged, following a more compact model. The facades formed practically a large “wall.”
Baroque architectural features are prominently present in churches in the Northeast region.
Salvador is famous for having 365 churches, one for each day of the year. Much of the beauty that does not immediately catch the eye of tourists is stored in the churches and monasteries of the capital city.
This architectural style presents characteristics that exalt Christianity, with elements such as arches, rounded columns, exuberant decoration, predominance of gold on the interior, and, on the exterior, light colors like beige and white.
The colours of colonial houses in Northeastern architecture
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The contrast between the colors of the buildings enhances the beauty of the properties in the cities. Houses often have a modest appearance, with colonial features, and are still preserved today with their colorful facades and distinctive characteristics.
They are known as platibandas, located at the top of the facade and served the purpose of “hiding” the roof, preventing rainwater from being thrown into the street.
In addition to this utility, the platibandas were also designed to enhance the building and decorate the structure.
Among the most common elements in this type of structure are the construction date, baroque shells, eagles, and sculptures of women, among others.
In capitals like Salvador, Recife, and Natal, it is possible to find many houses and public buildings where the platibandas stand out. Besides being a reference to the times of monocultures, they are linked to the Northeastern cultural identity.
Lime-based paintings on platibandas and facades are a traditional craft that is very characteristic of the region.
In both the capitals and the interiors and hinterlands, houses with colorful facades stand out in the cities. The diversity of colors creates a kind of rainbow that is characteristic and unique to Northeastern culture.
During the revitalization process that took place from the end of the 20th century, many buildings gained vivid colors that remain preserved to this day.
An interesting factor is that the colors used on the facades also reflect a bit of the residents’ personality. This is a characteristic that helps reveal the identity of the local people.
Tourist Guide to Bahia and the Northeast
