Church of Saint Peter Gonzalez

Saint Peter González Church
view of the Saint Peter Gonzalez Church
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic Church
Sect	Dominican Order
District	Archdiocese of Paraíba
Province	Archdiocese of Paraíba
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Church
Patron	Peter González
Location
Location	João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
Geographic coordinates	7.1154°S 34.8844°W / -7.1154; -34.8844
Architecture
Style	neoclassical architecture
Completed	1843

Saint Peter Gonzalez Church (Portuguese: Igreja de São Frei Pedro Gonçalves) is a Catholic church located at Largo de São Frei Pedro Gonçalves (which includes the church, houses and Hotel Globo). It is on top of the hill of the old Porto do Varadouro, in front of the Sanhauá River in the historic center of João Pessoa, capital of the Brazilian state of Paraíba. It stands out for its eclectic architecture with Neoclassical influences.[1]

History

View of the Saint Peter Gonzalez Church from the Sanhauá River

The church was built in 1843 with the contributions of merchants and fishermen, who settled on Rua Direita (Rua Duque de Caxias). The church initially bore the name of Church of the Navegantes; later, it was renamed for Saint Peter González, who is the Spanish patron saint of navigators.[1]

Archaeological Discovery

Side view of St. Peter González Church

During the restoration of the church in 2000, technicians (historians, archaeologists and architects) identified the ruins of a fortification built at the end of the 16th century. In a preliminary assessment by Brazilian National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) technicians, they may be the walls of a fortress,[2] possibly the Fort of Varadouro. During excavation, the water source that archaeologists believe to have supplied the population was also found, as well as tunnels for water drainage, human bones and ceramic material.[3] This may be related to the first settlements of the then Captaincy of Paraíba, of 1585.

See also

• Church of Mercy
• Church and Convent of Our Lady of the Rosary
• Monastery of St. Benedict
• Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows
• São Francisco Cultural Center

References

1. ADM (September 11, 2017). "Igreja de São Frei Pedro Gonçalves" (in Portuguese). Paraiba Criativa. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
2. "Igrejas" (in Portuguese). SETUR (Secretary of Tourism of João Pessoa). September 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
3. FREE-LANCE PARA A AGÊNCIA FOLHA (September 11, 2017). "Fortaleza do Século XVI é descoberta na PB" (in Portuguese). Folha de S. Paulo. Retrieved May 23, 2019.