Gravatá is a city in the
state
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
of
Pernambuco
Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...
,
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, located about from the state's capital
Recife
Recife ( , ) is the Federative units of Brazil, state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, on the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of South America. It is the largest urban area within both the North Region, Brazil, North and the Northeast R ...
(the distance by road is ). The population of Gravatá in 2022 was 86.516 inhabitants, according with
IBGE
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
.
[https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/pe/gravata/panorama ]
Geography
Gravatá is located at . The average altitude is . The area of Gravatá is . It is known for a pleasant climate (annual medium temperature ) and its charming houses with an
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National P ...
architecture; it is placed in the rural countryside of Pernambuco (Agreste Pernambucano). Located in the rural district of the valley of Ipojuca (Vale do Ipojuca), a transition area between the Forest and the Rural Area, in
Borborema Plateau
The Borborema Plateau ( Portuguese ''Planalto da Borborema'', also known as the ''Serra da Borborema'') is a plateau in northeastern Brazil which extends across the states of Pernambuco, Paraíba, and Rio Grande do Norte. The plateau is the northea ...
; it is part of the basin
Capibaribe. Being an important regional centre town, it is linked to Recife by a federal highway (BR-232), which passes also
Vitória de Santo Antão
Vitória de Santo Antão is a city in Pernambuco State, Brazil, 46 kilometers west of Recife. Its territorial area is 335,942 km², 5,717 km² of which lies within the urban perimeter. In 2021, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and ...
and
Jaboatão dos Guararapes
Jaboatão dos Guararapes () is a city in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. It is a part of the Recife metro area. The population was 706,867 according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2020, making it the second mo ...
.
The characteristic vegetation in Gravatá are savannahs, natural pastures, swamp, sandbanks and forests.
Administratively, the municipal district is composed of the district Gravatá itself and the municipals of Uruçu-Mirim, Russinhas, São Severino de Gravatá, Avencas and Ilha Energética.
History
The municipal district of Gravatá had its origins in a farm, which in 1808, belonging to José Justino Carreiro de Miranda, served as a lodging place for travellers and sold mainly sugar and beef. Travelling along the river Ipojuca from Recife towards the inside of the country was difficult in those times. The merchants were forced to make strategic stops to avoid the cattle losing weight. One of those resting-places was known as "Crauatá", derived from the Tupi name "Karawata" (mato que fura) for the place, due to the predominance of the plant ''
Bromelia pinguin
''Bromelia pinguin'' is a plant species in the genus '' Bromelia''. This species is native to Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and northern South America. It is also reportedly naturalized in Florida. It is very common in Jamaica
J ...
'' belonging to the
pineapple family also called Caraguatá, Caroatá, Caróa and Gravatá.
It was at the end of the 18th century, that José Justino Carreio de Miranda took ownership of the Fazenda Gravatá, which for a long time served as lodging for travelers. As a natural consequence, on the two sides of the river two populations developed. In 1810 the construction of the chapel Sant'Ana was started to be completed 12 years later by João Félix Justiniano, the son of José Justino Carreiro de Miranda.
Soon afterwards, the grounds were divided in 100 lots and sold to the residents, leading off the town of Gravatá (Cidade de Gravatá), being a district of the municipal district
Bezerros
Bezerros () is a municipality in northeastern Brazil, in the State of Pernambuco, near the city of Gravatá. Its population was 70.000 (2024) and its area is 491 km2. Also known as Papangu city, because a festive tradition in which the people dr ...
. In 1875, the
freguesia
(), usually translated as "parish" or "civil parish", is the third-level administrative subdivision of Portugal, as defined by the 1976 Constitution. It is also the designation for local government jurisdictions in the former Portuguese over ...
was created, and on May 30, 1881 Gravatá became a town (municipio) due to the Law provincial no. 1.560 (), and the former chapel was transformed to a mother church. On June 13, 1884, the main place of the municipal district was elevated to the category of a city (). However, political emancipation only came to happen after the Proclamation the Republic. by the Organic Act of the Municipal district of March 15, 1893, when the city's municipality gained autonomy and elected its first mayor, Antonio Avelino do Rêgo Barros.
In the end of the 19th century, with the inauguration of the Great Westerns Railways, linking Recife to the interior from Pernambuco, the city took considerable pulse and, little by little, vocation was defined for tourism, above all with the construction of the road BR-232, in the ''Mountains of Russians'' (Serra das Russas).
The Great Westerns Railways
The railroad between Recife and Gravatá was built in the years 1881 to 1894. The biggest problem in this project was the mountainous landscape around Gravatá, so that it was necessary to construct a lot of bridges and tunnels. The ''Grota Funda'' bridge e.g. has a length of and a height of . In the years 1945 to 1947 the railroad was reconditioned: the iron bridges were replaced by
ferroconcrete
Reinforced concrete, also called ferroconcrete or ferro-concrete, is a composite material in which concrete's relatively low ultimate tensile strength, tensile strength and ductility are compensated for by the inclusion of reinforcement having ...
bridges. In 1986 the railroad was cited for the breathtaking landscape around.
The importance of the railroad is caused by the development of the interior from Pernambuco: now it was possible to transfer goods and people in a reasonable time and in big quantities. This caused an economic upswing in the interior, because of a strengthening of trade and tourism.
Tourism
Gravatá itself has approximately 75,000 inhabitants, but in the weekends it occurs that population amounts to about 130,000 people: many tourists come to enjoy the cold and pleasant climate of the city. During the year, there are several events happening in the municipal district which lure growing numbers of tourists to the town.
*In January, on second Sunday, it promotes the traditional Festa de Reis.
*In February, blocks do the pré-carnival week.
*During the Easter-Week in April, Gravatá is one of the biggest centres of animation of the state, being included in the Itinerary of the Passion. In that period, local actors show Christ's Passion on stage and great musical shows are promoted. An estimated 300,000 people visit Gravatá during this time.
*In the month may, there opens up space for the religious tourism, with Frei Damião's Festivities. A great walk leaves the church (Nossa Senhora de Sant'Ana) towards the Chapel Capela do Riacho do Mel (chapel of the river of honey), where Frei Damião had celebrated his first mass in Brazil.
*In June, São João, although only in existence since 2002, already has become one of the largest and best of the country. In the first fortnight of the month the Community São João is accomplished, which means a caravan that leaves downtown, all the nights, bound for a neighborhood or district, with flags and balloons, gang, trios and a lot typical food, total free. In the second fortnight, in the fairground, all over decorated with flags and balloons, gang contests are accomplished and shows of national artists take place, besides local and regional attractions. In this period, the number of visitors to the city reaches the 500,000 people mark.
*In the first week of August, the ''Feira da Estação'' takes place, containing the Circuit the Cold, an event organised by the Government of the State, which travels to the cities of Pernambuco with workshops and cultural and musical presentations.
*In September, the economical sector (pieces of furniture, craft, gastronomy, flowers and strawberries) organise the ''Cultural Festival''.
*In December, the main streets and squares of the city are contemplated with a decoration and all special illumination for Paz's Christmas (Paixão de Cristo). Artists of all the styles (dance academies, corals, theater and bands) present themselves in the central places.
Economy
Gravatá's main economical activity is agriculture (pineapple, corn, cotton, sweet, potato, tomato, tangerine, bean, banana, cassava, strawberry), the retail trade and livestock. In the retail trade, items consist of "artesanato", hand crafts made for home and garden as well as accessories. It is said the most beautiful costume jewelry, made from crystals and semi-precious stones are made in Gravata.
Being an important producer of vegetable in rural Pernambuco, Gravatá produces and sells an average of 2 tons a week, at fairs in the proper town as well as in
Caruaru
Caruaru is a Brazilian Municipalities of Brazil, municipality in the States of Brazil, state of Pernambuco. The most populous city in the interior of the state, Caruaru is located in the microzone of Agreste and because of its cultural importance ...
and Recife. An important economical branch is also the cultivation of plants and flowers, producing several types of roses, chrysanthemums and other species of flowers, Gravatá is the municipal district with the largest production of temperate flowers in the Northeast.
Another important activity consists in the manufacturing of
rustic furniture
Rustic furniture is furniture employing sticks, twigs or logs for a natural look. The term "rustic" is derived from Latin (peasant; as opposed to urban). The style is rooted in Romantic tradition. In the US it is almost synonymous with the Natio ...
made of solid wood, mimbre and rattan. Also, there are numerous artisans of various crafts in Gravatá.
In the sector of animal breeding, Gravatá convinces with outstanding selected races. In Gravatá, there are bred horse's cattle, sheep and caprine. There are also numerous dog breeders
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler (, , ) is a breed of domestic dog, regarded as medium-to-large or large. The dogs were known in German as , meaning Rottweil butchers' dogs, because their main use was to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered mea ...
,
Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
*Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
* Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
and
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are dogs belonging to two breeds of the spaniel dog type: the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel, both of which are commonly called simply Cocker Spaniel in their countries of origin. In the early 20th century, ...
.
Real estate
The real estate section of Gravatá is one of the most important in the interior from Pernambuco, due to the duplication BR-232 (today denominated Rodovia Luiz Gonzaga) and for the offer lands and rural condominiums that multiply. According to the brokers, besides the municipal district to have the most expensive square meter in the State, it is the place where most houses are built in Pernambuco, with an average of five a day.
Economic Indicators
Economy by Sector
2006
Landmarks
*Alto do Cruzeiro, where to find Cristo Redeemer's statue (Cristo Redentor). Access is possible by the 365 steps of the stairs denominated ''Escadaria da Felicidade'' (Staircase of Happiness). There's gastronomy as well as the possibility to observe the sunset.
*Polo Moveleiro is the marketplace for rustic furniture made in solid wood.
*Estação do Artesão (Artist's station), located at the former railway-station the old station, just beside the fairground ''Patio de Eventos Chucre Mussa Zarzar'', where the local artisans sell their artworks.
* the City - Memorial Memorial da Cidade, located in the old building of the ''Cadeia Pública''.
*Banho de Dona Nadir (Bath of Dona Nadir), at 12 km distance from the city, with natural swimming pools.
*Architecture, with their constructions of the last centuries, as the City hall ''Sede da Prefeitura ''(1908), the church ''Igreja Matriz de Santa'Ana '' (1810), the houses of the avenue and the Chapel the Cruise, that give an all special charm to the City.
Gallery
See also
*
List of municipalities in Pernambuco
This is a list of the municipalities in the state of Pernambuco (PE), located in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Pernambuco is divided into 184 municipalities (plus the state district of Fernando de Noronha), which are grouped into 19 microregi ...
References
External links
homepage of the town (in Português)short film published April 2007 about Gravata
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gravata
Municipalities in Pernambuco