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Think of all the good that you have heard
about Porto Seguro and Brazil's Discovery
Coast and subtract from all bad that you
have heard about: that is Arraial d'Ajuda.
Cosmopolitan, rustically charming and full of natural beauty, this "village" which greatly resembles a small town (peculiar and totally different from the city to which it belongs, Porto Seguro) is a 'must' destination for anyone who wants to take a VIP trip of pure fun and charm! Forget the hippies who discovered it in the 70's. Today, people from all over the world and of all ages, especially the young ones, show up there. Also forget the Lambada, Lambaerobics or Axé music, now Arraial has all rhythms. The "Bróduei" (this is the correct spelling of one of our Bahia’s street, it is not Broadway, like the American one) is no longer the gathering point. Estrada do Mucuge (or Mucuge Street) has now become the portrait of this special Brazil’s corner. A lot of colors, the most original handcrafted pieces, a varied typical and international cuisine, awesome bars, galleries (like Beco das Cores), small shopping malls, a lot of green and, at the end of it… lush beaches with translucent tropical warm waters, framed by shore areas and palm trees. All of it is in the middle of the Atlantic Forest, with access to the constant singing and visiting of birds. |
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A little of Arrail's history
The history of Arraial d'Ajuda, a typical village of Jesuit settlements of
the sixteenth century, began with the construction of the church, which
received the first pilgrimage in Brazil and now hosts around 15 thousand
pilgrims from Bahia and the rest of the country, who, during the party Festa
da Santa, from August 7 through 15, come to pay promises, make wishes and
give thanks to the patron saint of the district, sailors and long trips.
The Arraial de Nossa Senhora - Our Lady - was yet another tribute to Tomé de
Souza and the first Jesuits who came here in 1549, with their 3 ships:
Conceição, Salvador and Ajuda, which would later become the names of towns
and their first churches. Before the construction of the straw chapel there
was only a plateau with sugar cane plantation.
The sugar cane cycle, and from 1720, the cocoa cycle, helped in the
formation of the village. There was also the influence of other cultures,
such as piassava, cassava flour and fishing. But most of all, undoubtedly,
was the religious pilgrimage of hundreds of people who came on pilgrimage,
and others who sent to fetch water. Propagated by the Jesuits that "Our Lady
miraculously opened that water fountain," the good news of the miracle
spread throughout all the captaincies of Brazil. In 1763, the Magistrate
Tomé Couceiro de Abreu wrote to the king of Portugal about the "villages and
rivers of the captaincy of Porto Seguro," where he mentions Trancoso, the
Vale Verde, but makes no mention of Arraial. There is some chance that
Arraial would be the former town of Santo Amaro, or that it was called the "Insuacome"
village. Until the early nineteenth century Arraial d'Ajuda did not seem to
exist with any notoriety. In the formation of the population of the current
district there was the influence of various ethnic groups, Indians (Pataxó
Indians), blacks and foreigners (Portuguese, French, Dutch, English and
Spanish). Miracles of Our Lady of Help - Nossa Senhora d'Ajuda - make
history.
Several missionaries, including Father Manoel da Nóbrega, left written
records about the appearance of the image of Our Lady of Help, the
construction of the saint's church and the miraculous water that sprang at
the foot of the church. In his "Chronicle of the Society of Jesus in Bahia,"
of 1864, Father Simon de Vasconcelos tells that an old woodsman, a resident
of a nearby ranch at the coast, climbed one day to the summit of the
mountain, with the goal of finding better wood that could restore some of
the gates of his hut, when he stumbled on a piece of rock: it was the
miraculous little saint. On his knees, the humble man took it in his hands
and soon returned home, placing the image in a cavity on the wall of his
modest hut, decorating it with different flowers. The rest of the day, the
man prayed, until he was subdued by sleep. As soon as he woke up, he noticed
that the saint vanished and he returns to the same place as the day before,
where there was the image in the same position. The woodsman brings the
little saint back and puts it on the oratory. He again prays and sleeps and
when he opens his eyes, the image is gone. For the third time, he found it
and understood its divine purpose, and perhaps inspired by the skies, he
transfers his hut to the place of the precious finding, now occupied by the
temple. The woodsman then becomes a hermit and starts wandering around,
making miraculous cures, whose earnings were intended for erecting a church
for the saint, which he named Nossa Senhora d'Ajuda - Our Lady of Help.
Ajuda was also the name of one of the three ships that brought the first
Jesuits to Brazil in 1549: Conceição, Salvador and Ajuda.
The urbanization began from the church. The church of Our Lady of Help began
to be erected in 1549, made of rammed earth, adobe and straw cover. Around
it, houses were built, which, in addition to sheltering the Jesuits, also
served for the work of catechesis of the Indians. According to the report of
Fausto Rodrigues de Almeida, in his book "Descubra Porto Seguro," the first
and second temple that were built collapsed overnight, one because it faced
the ocean, and the other because it faced the land, something that the
fickle saint did not want. If the priests placed it facing East, it turned
to the West and even to the South, preferring to face the North. The current
church is in this position. In 1772, the church, which is visible four or
five miles from the sea, was completely rebuilt.
The architectural group behind the altar is composed of five images: the
Crucified, Saint Amaro, Saint Anthony and two images of Our Lady of Help,
one smaller, considered miraculous, 31 cm tall, brought from Portugal in
1549 by the Jesuit missionaries, and a larger one, from the eighteenth
century. Both remain on the larger altar, leaving the smaller one placed at
a higher position. The church also has a room of miracles, with numerous
former thanking vows to the saint, being the oldest one dated of 1893.
According to the Cultural Guide of MADE (Open Museum of the Discovery), the
church was not only the foundation of Arraial d'Ajuda, it was also the
determining factor of continuity and development of the village. "The
probable cause of the continuity of the urban center was the religious
pilgrimage, which prospered from the eighteenth century, with processions
and people in search of the miraculous spring," says the document. According
to the guide, Father Manoel da Nóbrega recited the Christmas mass at the
church in 1550 and José de Anchieta came on pilgrimage in 1583. The
Sanctuary of Arraial d'Ajuda is considered the oldest Catholic sanctuary of
Brazil, and the pilgrimage takes place from August 6, with the apex of the
festival in honor of the patron saint of Arraial on August 15.
The miraculous water spouts at the foot of the church. According to the
chronicler of the Society of Jesus in Brazil, Father Simão de Vasconcelos,
in 1549, with his effort plus a few companions' were building the chapel of
Our Lady of Help. Both for the preparation of the mortar as for household
use, the religious men were forced to fetch water from far away, having to
climb up and down hills and through the property of a resident, who did not
accept the comings and goings inside his property. Saddened by the situation,
the men begged the virgin to overcome this situation. With immense effort,
they had already managed to raise the chapel of the sanctuary, and one day,
when Father Francisco Pires celebrated the Mass in that chapel, there was
the miracle.
The priest was officiating the Mass with heavenly zeal, when suddenly, under
the altar, "a loud, yet soft whisper," was heard, as Father José de Anchieta
puts it, and then the stream of water sprang out of the frontispiece of the
church at the foot of a lush tree. All the residents ran to see and admire
the great wonder, and among them, the one who rejected the transit of
priests within his lands. According to Father Simon de Vasconcelos, the man
was overcome with amazement, seeing how much more liberal the lady of the
religious had shown herself, and with clearer and more wholesome water.
Touched by the rebuke of heaven, he became especially devoted to the saint.
The miracle of the image spread out to every Jesuit Society in the coast of
Brazil and scores of pilgrims, coming from the furthest points of the colony
began to come in search of the chapel and the cure through that water.
Timeline of the church: 1549 - Start of construction by the Jesuits; in 1551
- At this time, Father Antonio Pires refers to the church as a chapel,
highly visited by many processions; 1583 - the Fathers José de Anchieta,
Cristóvão de Gouveia, Ferrão Cardin and other Jesuits come to visit it on
pilgrimage; 1772 - The church is renovated and the layout is the one that
remains to this day.
Source: Volume V of the Historical Heritage Protection Inventory of Bahia (IPAC).
The airfield. The airfield, named as "Emergency Field," was built in 1939 as
a strategic base to the service of the 2nd World War promoters. Under the
responsibility of the field engineer, Galdino Mendes, the airfield was
completed in less than 60 days. A "Flight of May 1939" was a festival for
Porto Seguro and Arraial, which was attended by the Portuguese Admiral Gago
Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral, who had been known since 1922 due to the first
air travel between Europe and America, in the small plane "Lusitania." Also,
a post office operated here in the years 1947 to 1950. Today, in place of
the Airfield, there is the Central Park and along the track, especially on
the right side, some of the most populated districts such as the Villas do
Arraial, São Francisco, São Pedro, Guanabara and Santiago.
Sources: Sanctuary of Arraial d'Ajuda and Jornal do Sol newspaper.
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Gastronomy is
also an important item.
"The food & beverage sector is a good opportunity to serve our guests in an
exclusive and differentiated manner, on the beach, in the rooms (room
service), at the pool, and other appropriate internal areas."
Competition with other restaurants located downtown is huge. "There are
great restaurants that complement the gastronomic options with a wide
variety of flavors, providing a very interesting and unique experience." We
have an agreement with the best bistros of Arraial and serve on a delivery
system in our facilities. Menus available at the reception.
Arraial d'Ajuda gathers restaurants of the most varied cuisines and the
great majority is concentrated on the bustling Mucugê Street. The options
range from the famous Steak Manguti to the sophisticated menu at Rosa dos
Ventos, one of the most traditional restaurantes in the village, with
delights that must be ordered one day in advance, such as the grilled
lobster and the Tuscan lamb with rosemary. Concerning charm and fun, the top
places go to Don Fabricio, Thaï Garden and Girassol, with bar and pool
tables.
Aipim Estrela
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: couples, with the family, with friends.
Address: Beco do Jegue, s/n
Tel: (73) 3575-3222
Boi nos Ares
Cuisine: Meat / Barbecue
Good to go: with the family, with friends, to flirt.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 200
Tel: (73) 3575-2554
Website: link to the website
Don Fabrizio
The chef and owner - the Sicilian Fabrizio Abate - serves customers in person
and suggests the dishes.
Cuisine: Italian
Good to go: couples, with the family, with friends.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 370
Tel: (73) 3575-1045
Lothus
The decor is inspired by the Thai culture, with many candles. The rooms are airy
and without walls, with outdoor mats.
Manguti
The highlights of the menu are the traditional and famous Steaks with Gnocchi au
Poivre sauce or Madeira sauce.
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: with family, with friends.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 99
Tel: (73) 3575-2270
Site: www.maguti.com.br
Paulo Pescador
Familiar and traditional, the restaurant is led by Paulo Roberto da Cunha, who
cooks and also serves customers.
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: with family, with friends.
Address: Praça S. Brás, 116
Tel: (73) 3575-1242
Website: link to the website
Rosa dos Ventos
Decorated with works by local artists, the house opened in 1991 and offers
ingredients that come from its own garden and orchard.
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: couples.
Address: Alameda dos Flamboyants, 225
Tel: (73) 3575-1271
Sabor & Arte
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: couples, with the family, with friends.
Address: Praça Brig. Eduardo Gomes, 86
Tel: (73) 3575-2379
Estrela
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: couples, with the family, with friends.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 201
Tel: (73) 3575-2655
Girassol
Attended by young people, it has a bar and pool tables.
Cuisine: Pizzeria
Good to go: with friends, to flirt.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 290
Tel: (73) 3575-1717
Mr. Pastas
Cuisine: Varied
Good to go: with family, with friends.
Address: R. do Mucugê, 145
Tel: (73) 3575-2292
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What to See & Do
The food and the beaches are the major attractions of Arraial D'Ajuda.
Undoubtedly, the biggest attraction of Arraial d'Ajuda is the beaches. The exact number is not precise, and it does not really matter much. What really matters is that they all have unique features and diverse beauty along about 16 kilometers.
The Taípe Beach, for example, is quiet, secluded by cliffs up to 20 meters high. It is the mouth of the river of the same name, with dark waters thanks to the mangrove vegetation, but free of pollution and great for fishing. The Pitinga Beach, in turn, is a creek of green waters and medium waves, which break on the beach. On site, there are several choices of chalets with excellent infrastructure.
The beaches of Arraial, Nativos or Canoas are little-frequented beaches. With loose sand and coconut trees, it is home to fishing boats and leisure. It offers no structure.
In the shape of a half-moon, the Mucugê Beach is the nearest to town and the most frequented one. The weak waves are broken by coral reefs near the coast. There, you can rent horses, kiosks and tents.
The beach is home to the Paradise Water Park with an area of 157 square meters. Among the options are fun toys like a wave pool, water playground, a set of waterslides enclosed with winding paths, children's waterslide, Lagoa Mirim - a water playground for chd up to 4 years old, Rupi River - a slow flow 426-mt river, a stream pool, among others.
The beaches of Arraial d'Ajuda are accessible on foot, down the Mucugê Street. Arriving at the beach of the same name - full of tents that are crowded in the summer -, on the left there are the quieter beaches, such as Araçaípe and Apaga-Fogo. On the right there is the trendy Parracho beach, with bars attended by young people. Keep going and the walk takes you to Pitinga, less crowded and with small - but charming - tents and guesthouses. Further ahead there is the isolated Taípe, with strong waves and framed by immense cliffs.
Mucugê Beach
Review:
Central beach of Arraial d'Ajuda, Mucugê. The natural pools are good for swimming and water sports. In the summer, it is the setting for luaus and all night long raves.
Pitinga Beach
Review:
The creek framed by multicolored cliffs is famous for its charming guesthouses and tents. With less frantic movement, Pitinga is accessible on foot - about half an hour walk far from Mucugê - or by car (ten minutes by dirt road from downtown).
Taípe Beach
Review:
The wildest and furthest beach of Arraial d'Ajuda is about two hours walk far from the village. The landscape is worth seeing: the beach is home to the most impressive and beautiful cliffs of southern Bahia, reaching 45 meters high. Colorful, they have nuances that go from white to red through orange and ocher, not to mention the green vegetation. Along the way, there are stretches of deserts and others with tents for recharging your batteries.
Parracho Point
Review:
A meeting point for young people, Parracho has large tents with music all day long, offering windsurf boards, kayaks and diving equipment for rental. It has sand sports courts for volleyball, foot volleyball and football and in the summer, it's where the most popular parties take place.
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