Juazeiro do Norte
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 containing some 400,000 people. Another 100,000 from smaller towns join in Cariri.
Get in
By bus
The bus station is 3 km from the centre. Guanabara has most departures. Taxi to the centre is 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
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
- Lanchonete 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.