São Cristóvão

São Cristóvão
Municipality
Município de São Cristóvão
São Francisco Square, São Cristóvão
Flag Seal
Location of São Cristóvão in the State of Sergipe
São Cristóvão Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 11°00′54″S 37°12′21″W / 11.01500°S 37.20583°W / -11.01500; -37.20583
Country	Brazil
Region	Northeast Region
State	Sergipe
Founded	January 1, 1590
Government
• Mayor	Rivanda Batalha
Area
• Total	436.863 km2 (168.674 sq mi)
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Population (2014 (est.))
• Total	85,814
• Density	196.43/km2 (508.8/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3
Postal Code	49100
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, vi
Designated	2010 (34th session)
Reference no.	1272
State Party	Brazil
Region	Latin America and the Caribbean

São Cristóvão (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃w kɾisˈtɔvɐ̃w], Saint Christopher) is a Brazilian municipality in the Northeastern state of Sergipe. Founded at the mouth of the Vaza-Barris River on January 1, 1590, the municipality is the fourth oldest settlement in Brazil. São Cristóvão is noted for its historic city square, São Francisco Square, and numerous early colonial-period buildings. The 3 hectares (7.4 acres) site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

São Cristóvão covers 437 square kilometres (169 sq mi), making it the third largest settlement in the state of Sergipe behind Aracaju and Nossa Senhora do Socorro.^[4] Its population is 85,814 (est. 2014) and has a population density of 196.43 per km2 (508.8/sq mi). São Cristóvão is home to the Federal University of Sergipe, which was established in 1968.^[6]

History

Church in São Cristóvão

São Cristóvão was established by the Portuguese (in a time when Portugal, Spain and the Naples kingdoms were under the rule of Philip II of Spain) as one of the first colonization attempts in Sergipe, which makes the city the fourth oldest one in Brazil. In 1590 the Portuguese sent Cristóvão de Barros to both subjugate the region to colonial rule and establish a safe trading port between Salvador and Pernambuco. De Barros quickly and violently defeated the local population, which consisted of people of mixed Tupinambá and French heritage who maintained a trade in Brazilwood. As a symbol of his victory De Barros founded a small village named for his patron saint, Saint Christopher.^[7]

The development of the town followed the Portuguese urban model, that is, in two plans: the higher town, where the headquarters of the civil and religious powers are; and lower town, with the harbour, the factories, and the low income population.^[8] The economy of São Cristóvão initially depended on the establishment of cattle herds for meat, milk, and leather. The settlement was completely destroyed by the Dutch in 1637. Tobacco and sugarcane plantations were established in the 17th century, and remained into the modern period.^[7] São Cristóvão was the state capital until 1855, when the provincial president Inácio Joaquim Barbosa moved the capital to Aracaju.

In 1967, the city was designated a national monument to preserve its colonial architecture.^[4] Among the important sacred buildings are the Church and Convent of São Francisco (which date from 1693), the Santa Casa de Misericordia (17th century Sisters of Mercy hospital), the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (1751), the Mother Church of Our Lady of Victory (1766) and several other important churches from the 18th century, including the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Colored Men, the Church of Our Lady of Amparo, and the Monastery of São Bento.^[8] The religious sites of São Cristóvão remain an important center of Roman Catholic pilgrimage in Brazil.^[1] The Museum of Sacred Art of the Church and Convent of São Francisco, is considered the third most important in Brazil.

São Francisco Square

São Francisco Square (Praça São Francisco) is an open space surrounded by colonial-period buildings such as the São Francisco Church and convent, the Church and Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the Provincial Palace and other buildings from later periods. The complex is a well-preserved example of typical Franciscan architecture of north-eastern Brazil. On August 1, 2010 the site, which covers 3 hectares (7.4 acres), was selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is managed by a regional office of the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) and the municipal government.^[5]

Economy

The city is a shipping port, and its main industries are sugar milling and distilling.^[2]

References