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Located in the south of Bahia, Belmonte is one of the extremities of the Discovery Coast.
The municipality of Belmonte has as neighbors Canavieiras, to the north, and Santa Cruz Cabrália, to the south.
One of the main attractions of the municipality of Belmonte is the village of Mogiquiçaba, which, in the indigenous language, means “landing of the river of snakes”. In this region, there are two natural springs, mangroves rich in shellfish, Atlantic Forest and a viewpoint.
History of Belmonte
The city of Belmonte has mansions from the golden age of cacao, at the end of the 19th century.
A few colonial mansions bear witness to the good times of Belmonte, so named after the birthplace of navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral. The town is poor and isolated.
Located on a plain between the Jequitinhonha River and the Atlantic Ocean, Belmonte shone in the rich period of the cocoa cycle at the end of the 19th century.
The territory, originally inhabited by the Botocudo Indians, was part of the Captaincy of Porto Seguro at the beginning of the 18th century.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Portuguese settlers began the settlement of São Pedro do Rio Grande near the Grande River, now the Jequitinhonha River.
The Botocudo Indians were catechized by the Jesuits who founded the chapel of Nossa Senhora de Madre de Deus there. The small chapel was the first construction of the place. For a long time the city was an important gateway to Minas Gerais, through the Jequitinhonha River, the only navigable route to Salto da Divisa.
Situated on a plain between the Jequitinhonha River and the Atlantic Ocean, this municipality flourished in the good times of cocoa cultivation at the end of the 19th century.
In 1891, it became a city, initially with the name Belmonte do Jequitinhonha. Historians assume that the name Belmonte was suggested by the ombudsman of Porto Seguro, in honor of the Portuguese city of the same name, where Pedro Álvares Cabral was born.
The historical assumption leads us to believe that the first “signs of land” (floating herbs, tree trunks and roots) sighted by Cabral’s squadron, came from the Jequitinhonha River, which in 1500 should have been more flowing, dragging species of the Atlantic Forest that were floating at the mercy of the sea currents.
At the mouth of the Jequitinhonha, there are still mangroves with the typical local vegetation, which includes twisted stems, with the tangle of its rough branches and intertwined roots on display, as well as a very rich fauna.
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Video about Belmonte in Bahia
Tourist spots of Belmonte
This municipality has a unique natural beauty.
Right at the mouth of the Jequitinhonha River, circumscribed in its beautiful geography there are mangroves of rare beauty.
Although mangrove, it draws attention to the performance of nature in this typical vegetation of the place, where you can see twisted stems, with the tangle of
Its rough branches and intertwined roots are on display, as well as a rich fauna.
Endowed with infrastructure to support the tourist, Belmonte is known as the “Capital of Guaiamum”, name given to a species of crab – tasty regional delicacy – widely found in the region.
The floods of the Jequitinhonha River carry clay to the reddish soils of the river banks, which acquire the moisture that provides a shorter production cycle, which results in abundant and abundant breeding of these blue-colored crustaceans.
- Lighthouse of Belmonte
One of the city’s tourist attractions, the Lighthouse was built in 1882.
- Historical Center of Belmonte
It houses several colonial buildings with Moorish traces evidenced. The architectural heritage of Belmonte is quite preserved and curious.
Belmonte’s surprising architectural heritage is quite preserved and curious – it has styles that blend together, from colonial to neo-Gothic.
The center of Belmonte houses several colonial buildings with Moorish traces evidenced.
Thus, we can mention the Rural Union of Belmonte, from the end of the 19th century and the Sobrado with belvedere – of three floors, built in 1897, with the coat of arms of the Portuguese Crown.
The Sobrado offers a partial view of the city, the Jequitinhonha River and cocoa farms, and the City Hall, from the early 20th century.
Tip: if you are a lover of Brazilian poetry, you cannot miss the Sosígenes Costa Municipal Library, located near the Bandeira square.
- Jequitinhonha River
The river with its muddy waters approaches the sea, following through the countless coconut trees of the landscape. Depending on the time of year, the Jequitinhonha carries clay to its banks, causing the soils to turn reddish.
Depending on the time of year, the Jequitinhonha carries clay to its banks, causing the soils to turn reddish.
In this way, it acquires a humidity that is conducive to the abundance of crustaceans, a fact that gave the city the nickname of “capital of guaiamum”.
- Mogiquiçaba Beach
Mogiquiçaba Beach is accessed by the river Preto or Sucuruiuba, yellow seed, in the Tupi language.
The village that gives its name to the beach is called Mogiquiçaba village.
It is therefore the ideal spot for windsurfing and surfing, as well as being one of the most suitable beaches for fishermen who enjoy fishing with nets and reels.
And it is also an excellent place for turtle lovers – which spawn there in a region protected by IBAMA.
- Caieira Beach
Who steals the scene is the mangrove, becoming the main attraction. We find crabs, guaiamuns, aratus and “chama-maré”.
Considered one of the most beautiful places in Belmonte, ironically, who steals the scene is the mangrove, becoming the main attraction of Caieira.
The path that leads to the mangrove is the path of Bairro Biela or Praia do Mar Moreno itself.
- Belmonte Beach
It is 25 km long, with palm trees and fine, beaten sand. The first two kilometers, near the city, are the most frequented.
The rest is practically deserted. The best time is April/September, when the level of the Jequitinhonha lowers and the beach becomes more beautiful, with dark green waters.
How to get to Belmonte
- The closest airport to Belmonte is Porto Seguro. From there, you will have to take the road that connects to Santa Cruz de Cabrália and travel it for 24 kilometers. In Santa Cruz, you can cross the river by ferry in 10 to 15 minutes. After the crossing over the João de Tiba River, it is necessary to take a bus for a journey of 42 kilometers.
- The second option is to follow the BR 101 and take the road to Itapebi. The road is cobblestone until Itapebi and then ground to the village of Barrolandia, and then another 59 km to Belmonte by asphalt.
- The third option is to go out to Itapebi.
- The third option is to leave Canavieiras by a small boat. The journey takes 40 minutes. It is practically an ecological tour because you can observe the exuberance of the rivers Pardo and Jequitinhonha passing through its mangroves, river islands and bars.
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Travel and Tourism Guide of Belmonte in Bahia