Main tourist towns in Pernambuco's Zona da Mata

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Towns in Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata: Traditions and cultural identity

The cities of Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata were born around the large sugar cane mills and factories, and grew by structuring themselves to provide the products and services required by the sugar-alcohol complex.

The Zona da Mata is a region that contains remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest on the coast of Pernambuco.

The activities of the cities of Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata are predominantly rural, and the centres of convergence of rural production have always been the mills, not the cities.

The latter did not function as warehouses and did not develop their own dynamism, living to satisfy the needs of the mills and the people involved in them.

This explains why the cities didn’t develop or grow. The largest cities still have urban populations of up to 60,000, with Carpina, Palmares, Timbaúba, Escada and Goiana standing out.

The exception is Vitória de Santo Antão, whose population is close to 100,000.

Main Tourist Towns in Zona da Mata PE

Vicência em Pernambuco - Guia de Turismo03:04

Nazaré da Mata a beleza dos Maracatus01:53

Artesanato de Tracunhaém

Rota dos Engenhos na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco12:50

Engenho Poço Comprido em em Vicência PE32:19

The text looks at the characteristics and culture of various towns in the Zona da Mata region of Pernambuco, highlighting their identities and traditions.

Tracunhaém: Known as “the city of clay handicrafts”, Tracunhaém inherits its identity from the indigenous people, with ceramics standing out. Nuca’s workshop and other local workshops produce pieces that are recognised outside the region. The town is also home to an artisan production centre.
Vicência: Located 87 kilometres from Recife, Vicência has a rich historical heritage, including more than fifty sugar mills. The Poço Comprido mill is notable for its historical importance, while the Água Doce mill has resumed the production of artisanal cachaça after a period of inactivity.
Passira: 90 kilometres from Recife, Passira is famous for its embroidery and the annual Embroidery Fair, held in October, where embroiderers display their creations.
Lagoa do Carro: Known for its tapeceiras and the Cachaça Museum, which has an extensive collection of cachaça brands. The town is also home to the Tapeceiras Association, which brings together the work of local artisans.
Carpina: Self-proclaimed“capital of the Zona da Mata“, Carpina has a strong tradition of puppet theatre, the mamujengos and events such as the vaquejada and jego races, which attract many visitors.
Nazaré da Mata: The city preserves the roots of rural maracatu, with eighteen folklore groups that perform during Carnival and at events organised by the Town Hall.

Artesanato de Tracunhaém — Pottery from Tracunhaém, PE

Vicência - Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora de Sant'Ana — Vicência – Mother Church of Our Lady of St Anne

Lagoa do Carro em Pernambuco — Lagoa do Carro in Pernambuco

Nazaré da Mata em Pernambuco — Nazaré da Mata in Pernambuco

These towns, with their rich cultural and handicraft traditions, reflect the diversity and history of Pernambuco’s Zona da Mata and contribute to the regional identity.

Zona da Mata de Pernambuco Tourist Guide

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →

Published on 15/01/2013 · Updated on 12/07/2025