Juazeiro do Norte is a city in Ceará, Brazil, one of the largest pilgrimage sites of South America. It forms a larger urban area, dubbed CraJuBa, with neighbouring Crato and Barbalha adding up some 400,000 people. Another 100,000 from smaller towns join in on Cariri.
Get in
By bus
Bus station some 3 km from the centre. Guanabara[1] has most departures. Taxi to the centre R$ 10.
- To Fortaleza, 6 hours
- To Crateús by TransCeará/Pernambucana, 3 daily, 7-8 hours, R$ 35.
- To João Pessoa(11 hours), via Sousa (3 hours), Patos and Campina Grande(9 hours) by Guanabara[2]
By plane
Daily flights to Fortaleza, Petrolina, Recife, Brasília and São Paulo by Gol.
Get around
A great number of buses pass by the western corner of Praça Padre Cicero, particularly at the terminal-like structure there.
See
Most of the sights revolve around the religious character Padre Cicero:
- On Horto, a hill some 7 km nortwest of the centre, stands the statue of Padre Cicero, together with other dedications. Take bus Horto from Praça Padre Cicero, every hour on the hour.
- Memorial Padre Cicero. 08:00-17:00. Mostly pictures explaining life and work. Free.
Do
- The last few days of October has 500 000 people coming to town, in a religious festival known as the Romaria.
Buy
There must be hundreds of tiny shops loaded with religious trinkets. Why not buy a two-inch Padre Cicero?
Eat
- Lanconete Vitória, Avenida Padre Cicero 438 (Half a block from the square). Late afternoon and evening. Burgers R$ 2-5, juices R$ 2-3.
Drink
A few simple, open-air spots at Praça Padre Cicero.
- Barzinho do Zé, Rua Padre Cicero 498 (One block up from the square). Lunch till late. A notch more sophisticated than its neighbours. Often live music. Set lunch at R$ 4,50. Large beer R$ 3.
Sleep
Dozens and dozens of pousadas in the center, particularly near Praça Padre Cicero. The cheapest (from R$ 10 per person) are on a strip of Rua São José, one block off the square.
Cope
- Laundry, Rua Padre Pedro Ribeiro, by the corner of Rua Santa Rosa. Pick up next day. Wash and dry R$ 1-2 per garment.
- Internet at several places along Rua Padre Cicero, uphill from the square, R$ 1/hour.