Itaparica is an island located at the entrance of
Todos os Santos Bay on the coast of the
Atlantic Ocean in the state of
Bahia,
Brazil. It is located about from the city of
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador (English: ''Savior'') is a Brazilian municipality and capital city of the state of Bahia. Situated in the Zona da Mata in the Northeast Region of Brazil, Salvador is recognized throughout the country and internationally for its cuisine ...
and covers . There are two municipalities on the island:
Vera Cruz Veracruz is a state in Mexico. Veracruz or Vera Cruz (literally "True Cross") may also refer to:
People
* María González Veracruz (born 1979), Spanish politician
* Philip Vera Cruz (1904–1994), Filipino American labor leader
* Tomé Vera Cruz ...
(87% of the land area) and
Itaparica
Itaparica is an island located at the entrance of Todos os Santos Bay on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It is located about from the city of Salvador, Bahia and covers . There are two municipalities on the island: ...
(13%). Itaparica has of beaches and exuberant
tropical vegetation.
History
Itaparica was home to a large Tupinamba population.
Amerigo Vespucci arrived at the island on November 1, 1501. The initial Portuguese settlement was a Jesuit outpost called Baiacu, founded in 1560, later renamed Villa do Senhor da Vera Cruz. Sugarcane and wheat were initially cultivated on the island; cattle were later introduced. The first work of hydraulic engineering in the new colony was on Itaparica: a dam to supply drinking water to the village. The island became productive within a short period of time and was attacked by British Corsairs as early as 1597. It was occupied by the Dutch between 1600 and 1647 during the
Dutch Occupation of Brazil. The Dutch constructed the Forte de São Lourenço in this period. The island later became a rich source of income for the Portuguese; it hosted a naval shipyard; lime mills, a crucial building material of the period; and a whaling industry, which continued to the mid-19th century.
The first steam engine in Brazil was set up on the island on the Ingá-Açu plantation. Itaparica was the scene of an important battle during the struggles of Independence of Bahia between 1821 and 1823. Many ''sobrados'', colonial-period houses, were constructed on the island to house
Pedro I of Brazil
Don (honorific), Dom Pedro I (English: Peter I; 12 October 1798 – 24 September 1834), nicknamed "the Liberator", was the founder and List of monarchs of Brazil, first ruler of the Empire of Brazil. As King Dom Pedro IV, he List of ...
and later
Pedro II of Brazil
Don (honorific), Dom PedroII (2 December 1825 – 5 December 1891), nicknamed "the Magnanimity, Magnanimous" ( pt, O Magnânimo), was the List of monarchs of Brazil, second and last monarch of the Empire of Brazil, reigning for over 58 years. ...
.
Sul America Open
Itaparica is known for hosting the
Sul America Open
The ATP Itaparica Open is a defunct men's tennis tournament that was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1986 to 1989 and the ATP Tour in 1990. The event was held in Itaparica, Brazil and was played on outdoor hard courts at Club Med Itapa ...
tennis competition (1986-1990). It is the former home of the
tennis tournament, the
ATP Itaparica
The ATP Itaparica Open is a defunct men's tennis tournament that was part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit from 1986 to 1989 and the ATP Tour in 1990. The event was held in Itaparica, Brazil and was played on outdoor hard courts at Club Med Itapa ...
.
Access
Itaparica can be reached in about one hour by ferry from Salvador. The smaller passenger-ferry departs from near the
Mercado Modelo Mercado Modelo (Spanish and Portuguese for "Model Market") may refer to:
* Mercado Modelo (Montevideo), Uruguay
* Mercado Modelo (Salvador)
The Historic Center ( US) or Centre ( UK; pt, Centro Histórico) of Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, al ...
, while the larger car-ferry goes from about north to
Bom Despacho. The state of Bahia is considering constructing a ( bridge between Salvador and Itaparica.
Noted residents
One of its most famous citizens was Brazilian writer
João Ubaldo Ribeiro
João Ubaldo Ribeiro (January 23, 1941 – July 18, 2014) was a Brazilian writer, journalist, screenwriter and professor. Several of his books and short stories have been turned into movies and TV series in Brazil. Ribeiro was a member of the Br ...
.
References
{{Authority control
Atlantic islands of Brazil
Landforms of Bahia