Aracruz: Squares, Markets and Local History

Discover Aracruz through its public squares, local markets and the history of Igreja Matriz São João Batista. The revitalized Praça Monsenhor Guilherme Schmitz features a striking graffiti design; the Feirinha de Aracruz brings together handicrafts, food, local products and cultural performances. The history of the Matriz and Mercado Municipal adds religious and urban perspectives to these impressions. If you are looking for a vacation rental in Aracruz and want to include culture, local products and community life in your travel plans, this mix of themes offers concrete starting points.

Church history in the Centro

Igreja Matriz São João Batista is located in the Centro of Aracruz (Sede). Construction of the current church began on January 26, 1950. The first Mass in the new building was celebrated on December 25, 1957—just under eight years after construction began. These two dates mark different stages in the building’s history without reducing it to a single moment.

São João Batista is the patron saint of the Matriz, the parish and the municipality of Aracruz. His birth is celebrated liturgically on June 24. The town’s history thus encompasses both the construction of the present church and the religious significance of its patron saint. For travelers who also want to explore a place’s historical and religious connections during their stay, the Matriz offers a concrete starting point. Igreja Matriz São João Batista is located in the Centro of Aracruz (Sede).

The square and its graffiti

The revitalized Praça Monsenhor Guilherme Schmitz was made fully accessible. It covers approximately 4,000 m². The square features graffiti depicting the wings of the Periquito Rei, a tourist attraction. It was painted by the Cult Bio collective from Barra do Riacho.

The design makes the square’s appearance a cultural topic in its own right: alongside the square’s name, there is a specific image and the named collective that created it. If you are interested in public spaces and visual design, you can include this aspect in your exploration of Aracruz. The accessibility information refers to Praça Monsenhor Guilherme Schmitz; its approximate area also gives a concrete sense of the size of this place.

The Feirinha and Mercado Municipal

The Feirinha de Aracruz began in the mid-1990s. At first, it brought together around 15 entrepreneurs. Over time, it developed into an important place for work, community life and strengthening the local economy. Its offerings include handicrafts, food, local products and cultural performances. Its history can therefore be told both through the initially modest number of entrepreneurs and its later significance for community life and the local economy.

The Mercado Municipal was established in the mid-1980s. It is considered one of the busiest places in the town center of the municipality of Aracruz. Alongside the development of the Feirinha, this brings a market with its own, older history into focus. If you are interested in markets and local economic traditions, the Mercado Municipal offers another point of reference for your stay.

More places in the same directory: Café, Rio Bananal, Cariacica, Mal. Floriano, Vitória, Alfredo Chaves, Sooretama, Conceição Da Barra.

For the broader travel overview: Espírito Santo.