Laranjeiras: Heritage and history in the heart of Sergipe
Laranjeiras, located in the state of Sergipe, is a historical city known for its rich cultural and architectural heritage. Founded in 1608, Laranjeiras has a well-preserved historic centre that attracts tourists interested in exploring its churches, museums and cultural traditions.
The city of Laranjeiras, 23 kilometres from Aracaju, was founded in 1608.
In 1701, the Jesuits built the Chapel of Santo Antônio and the order’s first residence, known as the Retiro, on the site where the town was born.
Listed by IPHAN, the complex is about 1 kilometre from the centre and, although on private land, is open to visitors, provided they book 48 hours in advance (Fazenda Brandão, s/n, rural area).
The Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, built in 1743, is one of the most culturally valuable monuments in the state and is also a protected historic monument.
It may have been the last Jesuit building in Sergipe, since the Society of Jesus was expelled from the Colony in 1759.
Note the rich stone carving on the entrance door (Rua da Comandaroba, s/n, rural area, about 1 km from the centre).
To visit it, contact the Culture and Tourism Department, which organises guided tours.
Videos – History and Tourist Attractions of Laranjeiras SE
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Points of interest in Laranjeiras SE
- Historic Centre
- Church of the Sacred Mother of Jesus Christ
- Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes
- Church of Our Lady of the Conception of Comandaroba
- Afro-Brazilian Museum
- Laranjeiras Museum of Religious Art
- Retiro Mill
- Casa de Ti Herculano
- Regional Fiestas
1. Historic Centre
The historic centre of Laranjeiras is one of the best preserved in Brazil, with cobbled streets, colonial houses and several historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Walking through the centre is like stepping back in time.
2. Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church
In the Public Archives of Laranjeiras, there are documents from 1790 in which the inhabitants of Laranjeiras, in the parish of Cotinguaba de Sergipe d’el Rey, sent an official letter to Queen Mary asking for permission to build a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Among the paintings is one of the Holy Family, attributed to José Teófilo de Jesus. In the sacristy there is a chest made of upholstered leaves. The door to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is made of carved wood and has a leaf seal and a glass flag.
3. Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes
The Church of Bom Jesus dos Navegantes, located on a hill, was consecrated in 1905 and attracts visitors who want a panoramic view of the city and the Cotinguiba riverbed.
As it’s a rather deserted place, it’s best to contact the Culture and Tourism Office, which will reserve a time and appoint someone to accompany you on your visit (Rod. Walter Franco, s/n, at the entrance to the city).
4. Church of Our Lady of the Conception of Comandaroba
Located in the district of Comandaroba, in the municipality of Laranjeiras, it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1943. It was built in 1734, according to the inscription on one of its portals.
It is believed that in 1731, after being administered for some time by the Capuchins, the parish was taken over by the Jesuits.
The church was restored in the early 1950s. The collection includes images of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of the Rosary, St Iphigenia, St Benedict, St Gonçalo and the Crucified Christ.
5. Afro-Brazilian Museum
The Afro-Brazilian Museum is one of the best attractions in Laranjeiras. It is housed in an imposing townhouse, with rooms dedicated to different themes.
The first room, for example, is dedicated to the sugar cane industry, while another displays instruments used to torture and punish slaves. On the second floor there is an area dedicated to religion. The visit can be supervised (Rua José do Prado Franco, 70).
6. Museum of Sacred Art of Laranjeiras
The Museum of Sacred Art in Laranjeiras houses a 17th century German harmonium. The gold-plated instrument still produces some sounds.
A rare and positive aspect: the museum has some facilities for the disabled (Praça Dr Heráclito Diniz Gonçalves, 39).
7. Retiro Mill
Casa e Capela de Santo Antônio – The house at Engenho Retiro was the residence of the Jesuits who settled there in the 17th century.
Its construction dates back to 1701 and the chapel was rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century. It has two floors and a balcony supported by wooden columns.
Inside, the main altar stands out, with its Greco-Roman style columns and floral decorations, among other elements.
8. Ti Herculano’s house
In the 19th century, Laranjeiras experienced its golden age: the Cotinguiba River valley was dotted with sugar mills and a large black and slave population.
Many of the blacks, however, lived in the city, working on the docks, in commerce or in the city’s trades, and some of them gained their freedom before the abolition of slavery.
The Casa de Ti Herculano dates back to the second half of the 19th century and was the second place where collective cults of African origin were organised in Laranjeiras, after the Casa de Ti Henrique, which disappeared.
Its owner, Herculano Barbosa, was a freed African who led the Nagô cult in Laranjeiras until his death in 1907.
The house appears in his inventory as a farm, adjacent to the old Engenho da Comandaroba, with a courtyard that extended down to the Cotinguiba River, a stretch of which still exists.
When the house was inherited by the widow Bernarda Barbosa, the saints of Ti Herculano passed into the care of her descendants.
Umbelina Araújo became the leader of the group, and at the beginning of the 20th century she began to hold some of the festivities in her home, the Terreiro de Santa Bárbara Virgem, in Rua da Cacimba. The Casa de Ti Herculano remains the main house and reference point for the Nagô tradition in Laranjeiras.
9. Regional festivals
Laranjeiras, in Sergipe, is famous for its cult of popular manifestations. For thirty years, it has been the stage for the Encontro Cultural (Cultural Meeting), the most important event of its kind in the State and a reference point for the folk art of the Northeast.
During the event, the town of Laranjeiras, in Sergipe, presents its unique folklore to the public.
Among the various festivities, it’s worth mentioning the Taieira, held in January, on the day of the Three Kings, in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Benedict, an impressive example of syncretism between the Catholic religion and African cults.
Another important folkloric manifestation is the Lambe-Sujo and Caboclinho festival, which recalls the time of the quilombos.
The groups take to the streets on the second Sunday in October to the percussive sound of the timbau, cuica, caceteira and tabaque.
Tips for visitors
- Best time to visit: The city can be visited all year round, but the festivals and cultural events, such as the Lambe-Sujo and Caboclinhos Festivals, offer an enriching cultural experience.
- How to get there: Laranjeiras is about 20 kilometres from Aracaju and is easily accessible by car or bus from the capital.
Tourist guide to Laranjeiras in Sergipe
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