A paisagem cultural da Capitania da Parahyba, Brasil, na ótica da iconografia do período colonial

Abstract

The natural landscape of João Pessoa mixes beautiful beaches, cliffs, reefs, and other natural elements, being a famous touristic destiny. Added to this, it has a historic center with oldest buildings in the country, reflecting a historical period concerning the occupation and conquest of the portuguese people. Thus, the privileged nature, associated with important cultural heritage, results in the appropriation of this coastal environment, with the consequent urban development dating from the XVI century. The objective of this paper is to present the perception that travelers who have been in the Captaincy of Parahyba had about the physical environment which was essential for the consolidation of capital and urban expansion resulting in its cultural landscape. For this, it was resorted to a rich iconographic documentation produced during the period, with the role of instigating the current communities to a rediscovery of their identity and roots that are linked to physical elements of space.