Itamaracá Island

Itamaracá Island brings together a layered history and distinctive natural features. The Presidente Getúlio Vargas Bridge connects the island to the mainland; at the same time, the Santa Cruz Channel separates Itamaracá Island from the mainland. When choosing a holiday apartment for your stay, you can consider whether historic sites, nature conservation, or culinary traditions should shape your discovery plans. The island offers several different starting points for this.

Forte Orange and the history of the channel

Forte Orange stands at the southern entrance to the Santa Cruz Channel. The Dutch built it on Itamaracá Island in Pernambuco in 1631. Its purpose was to protect access for the embarkation and disembarkation of ships serving the ports of Igarassu and Vila da Conceição. The fort thus points to the channel’s former importance to shipping and to the two ports mentioned.

After the Dutch defeat, Portuguese authorities restored Forte Orange in 1696. They replaced the Flemish symbols with the arms of the Kingdom of Portugal. These changes offer a concrete way to trace the different periods of rule. In 1971, an archaeological investigation by the Laboratório de Arqueologia of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco identified the original fort’s barracks, kitchen, powder magazines, and chapel. These findings bring individual, vivid features of the historic complex to light: in addition to defense, its design also included provisions for daily needs and religious life.

Vila Velha and memories of early settlement history

Vila Velha also offers a glimpse into the early history of Itamaracá Island. Around 1536, Duarte Coelho, the first Donatário of the Capitania de Pernambuco, landed in what was then Vila de Nossa Senhora da Conceição. The historic settlement later became known as Vila Velha. As early as 1526, there was a chapel there dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Conceição, under the care of the priest Francisco Garcia. The two dates refer to different events: the chapel and Duarte Coelho’s later landing.

Engenho São João has further historical distinctions. It was the birthplace of the abolitionist João Alfredo Corrêa de Oliveira. Its Moita also preserves Brazil’s first steam mill. Visitors interested in the history of social change or technological developments will find two distinct subjects to explore through the same historic site.

Nature conservation and marine life

The Refúgio de Vida Silvestre Mata de Santa Cruz lies in the northern part of Itamaracá Island. It protects a remnant of Atlantic Forest vegetation, provides a refuge for flora and fauna, and also safeguards the estuarine zone of the Santa Cruz Channel. Forest vegetation and the sensitive area along the channel are therefore at the heart of a nature-conservation story that differs clearly from the histories of the fort and settlement.

Another connection with nature is the ICMBio aquatic mammal facility on Itamaracá Island. It was established in 1990 to receive and rehabilitate dependent young West Indian manatees found weak or stranded. The facility is considered one of the first rehabilitation units of its kind in Brazil. Its West Indian manatee rehabilitation area (Trichechus manatus) and visitor facilities add a concrete example of animal care to the island’s wildlife story.

Culinary tradition and other destination pages

Food is also part of Vila Velha’s tourist offering, including recipes based on shellfish. This is a distinct aspect alongside the history of settlement and the fort, as well as nature-conservation themes. If you plan your trip around these different interests, you can first decide which ones matter most to your stay. Other destination pages: Toritama, Barra Do Sirinhaém, Nazaré Da Mata, Caruaru, Araçoiaba, Paulista, Camela and Camaragibe.

For the broader travel overview: Pernambuco.