UNESCO

On December 13th, 2001, UNESCO considered the archipelago a WORLD NATURAL PATRIMONY SITE, with the diploma being sent on December 27th, 2002. In 2003, we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the entrance of Fernando de Noronha in the history of mankind. 500th anniversary of the first arrival in the island, its description by one of the greatest navigators in history, Americo Vespucio.

Cultural Patrimony of Fernando de Noronha

Vila dos Remédios

Even though it was discovered in 1503 and donated as a Hereditary province in 1504, the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha remained abandoned for more than two centuries, receiving quick visits of navigators from all over the world.

In the 17th century, the Dutch remained there for 25 years. Very little remains from this time, besides parts of bulwarks of the current Fortaleza dos Remédios (where they built a stronghold, in 1629) and the lands of agricultural experiments.

The reports from this time talk about stockrooms, dwellings, commodities post, corral, plantations, a small Calvinist reformed Congregation, among other constructive evidences for such a long occupation period. There are the “Elisabeth Gardens”, where cultures were experimented, mainly anile. And the space of this Dutch “Village” is exactly where VILA DOS REMÉDIOS was built, in the following century, right after the definite occupation by Portugal, through the province of Pernambuco.

The strategic conditions of this place were evident: close to a water flow called Mulungu Stream and to other headwaters; easy access to Enseada do Cachorro, which was eventually used as anchorage; the headwater of potable water later turned into Bica do Cachorro (Dog tap); the direct access to the new fort (Remédios). This seemed to be the ideal place for the implantation of the main Village.

Urban Development in Fernando de Noronha

The urban sketching of Vila dos Remédios, with its planned structure, was composed of two courtyards (two spatial units). In the upper space, there was the administration, the civil power, and, in the lower, the church, the religious power. The whole area was paved in stones and the buildings were always of large tonnage. It is important to emphasize that one of the main functions of the village, in its origins, was to support the penitentiary system, also built in this period. Strategically, the Village was not supposed to be seen from the sea.

Vila dos Remédios appeared as the main Village's urban core. The administration had been located there since the XVIII century, with the public buildings, the penitentiary lodging and workplaces for the prisoners; the church, the command square or the weapon’s square, residence houses, stock-room, schools, the hospital and the store-rooms to store the agricultural production and foodstuff from the continent.

The transportation system arose, paved along the Island as well, using the model “cabeça de nego” (black head), always worrying about the pluvial water drain and the soil maintenance, procedure adopted in the streets and courtyards that define the village.

For about two hundred years this core was used and maintained in its original structure, only with small changes and inclusions. In 1938, when the archipelago was handed to the Union, the Village was architectonically extremely well conserved.

Great interferences and disfigurations took place mostly after 1942, with the occupation that resulted from the II World War. Then, part of the ancient urban face was lost, making room for the influence of pre-molded constructions because it was more practical. They became a reference in this technology.

Archeological Patrimony of Frnando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha was only definitely occupied in 1737, after the French were evicted. They had taken control of the island a year before. Considering the danger this strategically located archipelago represented to Brazil, in the Atlantic voyage, Portugal, through the Province of Pernambuco, decided to fortify it conveniently. In order to do this, fortifications were lifted in all strategic spots, where ship lands where possible, avoiding, this way, navigators landings, as it was happening since the 16th century.

Ten forts were built, nine of them being in the main island (the only one inhabited and just one in the rocky islet, situated in front of Santo Antonio Port and its role was specifically to defend the main natural anchorage.

Among them, only Nossa Senhora dos Remédios Fort was tumbled down by IPHAN, in 1961, leaving the other defense system models out of the process. Only after Fernando de Noronha “Documental Rescue” was implanted, the tumble down order was directed by its coordination.

Learn about the archeological sites of the main Fernando de Noronha fortifications:

Santo Antonio Fort

Initiated in 1737, this construction has an irregular four-sided shape. According to the original sketch, it was composed of 10 artillery pieces for the defense of Santo Antonio small bay, a natural anchorage.

São Pedro do Boldró Fort

No one knows the exact year this fort was built, shaped as a trapezium. It had three lines for the defense of the coast path called “inside sea”, between Morro do Pico and Morro dos Dois Irmãos.

Nossa Senhora dos Remedios Fort

It is the biggest fortification of all 18th century’s defense system implanted by the Portuguese. It is located on a hill, between Santo Antonio Port and Praia do Cachorro (Dog’s Beach). A bridge above Mulungu creek and a road, which goes along the hill’s flank until its bulwarks, defined its implantation. This fort was built above an ancient Dutch redoubt, raised in 1629. It sheltered correctional facilities in the time of common and political jail, as well as soldiers during the II World War.

Nossa Senhora da Conceição Fort

Initiated in 1737, a square in the sketch, this construction used to defend the small bay of Meio beach and Conceição beach. In the end of the 19th century, over the ruins of the fortification, a hospital was built.

Reduto Sant'Ana

This fort, built in the mid 18th century, was deactivated in the end of the same century to shelter the Marine Headquarters. A ramp going down to Praia do Cachorro facilitated its use as a port.

São João Batista dos Dois Irmãos Fort

Fortification built in the mid 18th century, in the shape of a trapezium, with artillery for six pieces.

São Joaquim do Sudeste Fort

It was built in 18th century; it had three lines with six pieces for the defense of Sudeste bay.

São José Fort

It was built between the years 1758 and 1761; its role was to prevent landing on the secondary islands (Rosa, Rata, do Meio and Sela Gineta), as well as in Santo Antônio Bay.

The House next to Memorial Noronhense

A solid building, of which there are reliable images. It served as the residence of the command staff of the common jail that operated on the island. After renovated, it allowed the rearrangement of the church’s courtyard scenery, improving the urban area in front of it.

Bathing House (Casa de Banho) of Fernando de Noronha

On the bank of Mulungu stream, water holes were used by the carceral community and, from 1942, by the military, who built a kind of local communitarian laundry. There was also, in the 19th century, a public bath, with appropriate house, intended for the jail employees.

Legends of Fernando de Noronha

Throughout the centuries, the loneliness and isolation of those who lived in Fernando de Noronha awakened their fantasies, which resulted in the creation of legends that crossed times, about seductive women, threatening figures, punishment, myths, death figures, etc.

The analysis of these myths reveals the various historical and political moments of Noronha, leaving a “trace of truths” in the fantasy that generated them. Most of these legends data back to the Common Jail time, possibly from the 17th century up until today. They symbolize the fears and challenges of the prisoner, who were so far from the continent.

These stories are part of the island cultural consciousness, having been registered in different moments by researchers from different states. They survive until today because of people’s memory, popular collection of songs and poetry.

This whole universe was collected, analyzed, systematized and became available for the public with the publishing of the work Fernando de Noronha: Legends and Picturesque facts, by Marieta Borges Lins e Silva, in which the most important legends are emphasized.

These myths were also highlighted in the carnival of 1995, with Estação Primeira de Mangueira (An organized Samba group), which presented the plot Fernando de Noronha: Its Legends and Fantastic Possibilities. This Rio de Janeiro Samba group took Marieta Lins e Silva book as a reference to turn into Samba each story orally preserved and registered as the result of research. The Carnival man Ilvamar Magalhães was responsible for the plot creation and all the elements added to the avenue parade. Check here Mangueira’s Samba-plot about Fernando de Noronha.