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Laranjeiras, located in the state of Sergipe, is a historic city known for its rich cultural and architectural heritage. Founded in 1605, Laranjeiras has a well-preserved historic centre that attracts tourists interested in exploring its churches, museums and cultural traditions.
The city of Laranjeiras, 23 kilometres from Aracaju, was founded in 1594.
In 1701, the Jesuits built the chapel of Santo Antonio and the order’s first residence, known as Retiro, on the site where the city was born.
Listed by IPHAN, the complex is located about 1 kilometre from the centre and, although on private property, is open to visitors, provided they book 48 hours in advance (Fazenda Brandão, s/n, rural area).
Also listed as a historical heritage site, the church of Nossa Senhora da Conceiҫão, built in 1743, is one of the
monuments of greatest cultural value in the state.
It may have been the last Jesuit building in Sergipe, since in 1759 the Society of Jesus was expelled from the colony.
Notice the rich stone carving on the entrance gate (Rua da Comandaroba, s/n, rural area, about 1 km from the centre).
To find out more about it, contact the Culture and Tourism Department, which organises a guided tour.
Videos – History and Tourist Attractions of Laranjeiras SE
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Tourist attractions in Laranjeiras SE
- Historic centre
- Matriz Sagrado Coraҫão de Jesus Church
- Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes
- Church of Our Lady of the Conception of Comandaroba
- Afro-Brazilian Museum
- Laranjeiras Museum of Sacred Art
- Engenho Retiro
- House of Ti Herculano
- Regional Festivals
1. Historic Centre
The historic centre of Laranjeiras is one of the best preserved in Brazil, with cobbled streets, colonial houses and several historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Walking through the centre is like stepping back in time.
Trusted Monuments and Public Spaces in the historic centre of Laranjeiras: Igreja Matriz do Sagrado Coração de Jesus (Sacred Heart of Jesus Mother Church), Capela do Engenho Jesus Maria José (Jesus, Mary and Joseph Chapel), quarteirão dos Trapiches (Trapiche block), casarão dos Rollemberg (Rollemberg mansion) and sobrado next door, casarão de oitão in Praça da República (Republic Square), calçadão Getúlio Vargas (Getúlio Vargas promenade), Avenida Municipal (Municipal Avenue), and the squares Coronel José de Faro, Samuel de Oliveira, Sagrado Coração de Jesus, da República and Trapiche Santo Antônio, among others.
2. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church
In the Public Archives of Laranjeiras there are documents from 1790 containing a request (in an official letter) from the residents of Laranjeiras in the parish of Cotinguaba de Sergipe d’el Rey, addressed to Queen Maria, asking for permission to build a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Among the paintings is one depicting the Holy Family, attributed to José Teófilo de Jesus. In the sacristy is a chest made of cushioned sheets. The gate to the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is made of carved wood and has a leaf seal and glass flag.
3. Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes
The Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes, perched on top of a hill, was handed over to the faithful in 1905 and attracts visitors who want a panoramic view of the city and the Cotinguiba riverbed.
As the place is a little remote, it’s best to contact the Secretariat of Culture and Tourism, which will book a time and appoint a person to accompany the visit (Walter Franco road, s/n, at the entrance to the town).
The city of Laranjeiras also has some interesting museums. With a varied collection that bears witness to the presence of black people in the country’s culture.
4. Church of Our Lady of the Conception of Comandaroba
Located in the district of Comandaroba, in the municipality of Laranjeiras, and listed in 1943. It was built in 1734, according to the inscription on one of its portals.
It is believed that in 1731, after some time being administered by the Capuchins, the congregation was taken over by the Jesuits.
The church was restored in the early 1950s. The collection includes images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of the Rosary, St Iphigenia, St Benedict, St Gonçalo and the crucified Christ.
5. Afro-Brazilian Museum
The Afro-Brazilian Museum is one of the best attractions in Laranjeiras. It is housed in an imposing mansion, with rooms dedicated to specific themes.
The first room, for example, focuses on the sugar cane economy, while another exhibits instruments used to torture and punish slaves. On the second floor, there is an area dedicated to religion. The visit can be monitored (Rua José do Prado Franco, 70).
6. Laranjeiras Museum of Sacred Art
The Laranjeiras Museum of Sacred Art features a German harmonium from the 17th century. Plated in gold, the instrument still makes a few sounds.
A rare and positive aspect: the museum has some facilities for the disabled (Praҫa Dr Heráclito Diniz Gonҫalves, 39).
7. Engenho Retiro
Casa e Capela de Santo Antônio – The house of Engenho Retiro was the residence of the Jesuits who settled there during the 17th century.
Its construction dates back to 1701 and the chapel was remodelled at the beginning of the 19th century. It has two floors and a balcony supported by wooden columns.
Inside, the main altar stands out, with its Greco-Roman style columns and floral decoration, among other elements.
8. Ti Herculano House
In the 19th century, Laranjeiras lived through its golden age: the Cotinguiba River Valley was dotted with sugar mills and a significant black and slave population.
Many of the blacks, however, lived in the city, working on the wharves, in commerce or in urban trades, and several of them obtained their freedom before the Abolition of Slavery.
The Casa de Ti Herculano dates back to the second half of the 19th century, and was the second space in which the collective cults of African origin were organised in Laranjeiras, following the Casa de Ti Henrique, which disappeared.
Its owner, Herculano Barbosa, was a freed African who led the Nagô cult in Laranjeiras until his death in 1907.
The house appears in his inventory as a farm, neighbouring the old Engenho da Comandaroba, with a yard that stretched down to the Cotinguiba river – a stretch of which still remains. When the house was inherited by the widow Bernarda Barbosa, Ti Herculano’s saints passed into the care of her descendants.
The position of head of the group was passed on to Umbelina Araújo who, at the beginning of the 20th century, began to hold part of the festivities at her home – the Terreiro de Santa Bárbara Virgem, in Rua da Cacimba.
The Casa de Ti Herculano remains the main house and a reference point for the Nagô tradition in Laranjeiras.
9. Regional Festivals
Laranjeiras in Sergipe is famous for its cult of popular manifestations. For thirty years it has been the stage for the Cultural Encounter, the most important event of its kind in the state and a reference point for popular art in the Northeast.
During the meeting, the city of Laranjeiras in Sergipe presents its unique folklore to the public.
Among the various festivities, it’s worth mentioning the taieira, held in January, on Three Kings’ Day, in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict, a formidable example of syncretism between the Catholic religion and African cults.
Another significant folkloric manifestation is the Lambe-Sujo and Caboclinho revelry, which recalls the time of the quilombos.
The groups take to the streets on the second Sunday in October to the percussive sound of the timbau, cuica, caceteira and tabaque.
Guest Tips
- Best time to visit: The city can be visited all year round, but the festivals and cultural events, such as the Lambe-Sujo and Caboclinhos Festival, offer an enriching cultural experience.
- How to get there: Laranjeiras is around 20 kilometres from Aracaju and is easily accessible by car or bus from the capital.
Laranjeiras Tourism and Travel Guide in Sergipe
