Nova Jerusalém

Getting there

By plane Fly to Recife Guararapes International Airport. A closer, but much smaller airport, can be found in Caruaru.

By car From Recife, the main route to Nova Jerusalém goes along the modern BR-232 interstate highway, through the cities of Gravatá and Caruaru. In Caruaru, take BR-104 in the direction of Campina Grande. At the Trevo do Cangaceiro de Pedra crossways, take state highway PE-145, which leads to Nova Jerusalém (22 kilometers). Alternative routes: (i) BR-408, PE-90 and BR-104 (through Carpina; Surubim and Toritama); (ii) BR-408, PE-95 and BR-104 (through Carpina; Limoeiro; Passira; Riacho das Almas and Caruaru).

Recife: 184 km Caruaru: 51 km Campina Grande: 170 km João Pessoa: 300 km

See

1 Paixão de Cristo de Nova Jerusalém. World's largest open-air theater. Passion of Christ and monumental city (real-size replica of Jerusalem during Jesus' time). More than 200,000 thousand visitors during Easter. Historical buildings in the center of town. Colonial tiles from the 1700s and early 1800s. Typical Northeastern street market Serra da Prata Lookout (1; 000 meters above sea level). Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Bom Conselho Church Matriz de São José Church (1792) Casa da Câmara e Cadeia (1845), by French architect Louis Vauthier Historical and Archeological Museum (Museu Histórico do Brejo da Madre de Deus) Monumental Sculpture Park (Parque de Esculturas Monumentais Nilo Coelho) in Fazenda Nova. Gigantic granite figures sculpted by local artisans. Inspired in themes from local culture and history. Vila de Fazenda Nova, typical small village from Northeastern Brazil. Most extras in the Passion of Christ are locals from the village. Public thermal waters.

Do

1 New Jerusalem Theater (Nova Jerusalém), Fazenda Nova. Pedra do Cachorro (Dog Rock): adventure trails through caatinga vegetation. Trekking, climbing, rappelling in Fazenda Nova. Pedra da Lua (Moon Rock): prehistorical cave paintings in Fazenda Nova. Trekking in the Mata Atlântica forest in Fazenda Nova. Sobradinho and Araras waterfalls. Forró dance. Thematic dinners (Christian/Roman) in the city-theater. Traditional handicrafts. Sculptures in granite. Objects made with straw. Very fine "Renascença" lace ana embroidery.

Eat

Local cuisine includes dishes made from goat meat and macaxeira (also known as manioc or yucca). Desserts include cocada (coconut-based sweet), cakes, sequilhos.

Drink & nightlife

Carrot-based liquor and cocktails. Pousada da Paixão, Teatro de Nova Jerusalém, tel.: +55 81 3732-1602. Grande Hotel Fazenda Nova, tel.: +55 81 3732-1137 Parque Hotel Fazenda Nova, tel.: +55 81 3732-1119 Other options in Caruaru and Recife.