Santa Rita brings together a history of pilgrimage, churches and early industrial heritage. The Santuário Santa Rita de Cássia is one of the city’s significant religious and historic landmarks. This offers different perspectives for planning your trip: religious traditions surrounding Saint Rita, as well as architectural and industrial traces of the city’s history. In the municipality, a historic chapel and the riverside landscape near Forte Velho add further points of interest.
Pilgrimage and sacred history
The Santuário Santa Rita de Cássia grew out of a small chapel dedicated to Saint Rita around 1776. The Festa de Santa Rita de Cássia is a traditional celebration in honor of Santa Rita’s patron saint. Each year, the celebration turns the city into a place of religious ceremonies, blessings and popular expressions of faith.
An announcement published in 2025 stated that the Romaria de Santa Rita had been included in the official tourism calendar of the state of Paraíba. Check the latest festival dates and program when planning your trip.
Churches and industrial heritage
The Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is another testament to Santa Rita’s sacred history. The Irmandade dos Pardos built the church in 1851; it is protected for its cultural significance to Paraíba. The church adds another named site and a specific year of construction to the history of the Santuário.
Early industrialization is another focus. Santa Rita was the first city in Paraíba to have a factory complex; the Companhia de Tecidos Tibiri opened in 1892. Praça do Povo now occupies the site where the Companhia opened. This gives the city’s industrial history a specific point of reference in the present-day city, alongside its sacred buildings.
In the municipality: chapel and riverside location
The Capela São João Batista is located in the municipality of Santa Rita. A smaller chapel previously stood on its grounds; André Vidal de Negreiros was baptized there in the early 17th century. A description dated August 26, 2025, describes the Capela as being in ruins and notes severe deterioration, metal supports and an imminent risk of collapse. Check its condition before visiting.
Forte Velho is a district of the municipality of Santa Rita at the mouth of the Paraíba River. It lies on the bank of the channel that separates Ilha da Restinga from the municipality of Santa Rita. Boat trips are occasionally available there; boats connect the city of Cabedelo’s pier with Forte Velho daily. Check the current schedule before you travel.
These points of interest raise different planning considerations: check the latest dates for the Festa and the Romaria; the history of the Santuário, Igreja and Companhia offers a cultural and historical focus. At Forte Velho, boat connections are an additional consideration. This lets you weigh religious events, city history and the riverside location separately when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Areia, Catolé do Rocha, João Pessoa, Baía Da Traição, Patos, Várzea, Água Branca, Bayeux
For the broader travel overview: Paraiba.
