With beautiful beaches, white sand dune areas and a rich and diverse culture, Natal offers its visitors a unique leisure and entertainment experience. The city was thus named (“Natal” meaning “Christmas” in Portuguese) because, on December 25th, 1597, Admiral Antônio da Costa Valente and his men entered the shoals of the Potengi River, after several failed attempts at colonization. The date became the birthday of the capital of Rio Grande do Norte.
With the strengthening of its economy and tourism, the city started to present an excellent quality of life and has a great urban structure, standing out among the capitals of Northeast Brazil.
The Praia da Ponta Negra, 12 km away from the center, is one of the best known beaches of Natal. There you will find the Morro do Careca, a dune standing at over 100 m tall, a landscape well known in the postcards of the city.
The cuisine of Rio Grande do Norte is rich: in the list of ingredients of the main recipes are Brazilian jerked beef, shrimp, fish, cassava, beans, rice, and tapioca. Shrimp has its own annual festival in Natal, in November. The caranguejada, crab stew popular in local restaurants, tapioca and ice creams and popsicles made from regional fruits are also some of the local delicacies.
The Cajueiro de Pirangi is known as the largest cashew tree in the world. It is a gigantic tree on the Pirangi do Norte beach, 12 km to the South of Natal. The tree covers an area of approximately 8,500 square meters, with a perimeter of approximately 500 m, and produces from 70 to the 80 thousand cashews at harvest.
Among Natal’s monuments is the Fortaleza dos Reis Magos, a landmark of the city. The site preserves cannons exposed at the top of the building, a chapel with a fresh water well and living quarters.
Source: www.visitbrasil.com