Capela brings together festival traditions, nature conservation and a locally rooted history. At the Festa de São Pedro, a tradition leads from the forests to a square in town; the Sarandaia, by contrast, goes from door to door. There is also the Refúgio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco and the Trilha Interpretativa Pau-Brasil, with technical standards for mapping and signage. This gives you several reasons to choose Capela for its culture, nature or history.

Festivals and Living Traditions

The Festa do Mastro in Capela is recognised by law as intangible cultural heritage of the state of Sergipe. At the Festa de São Pedro, hundreds of celebrants search for a tree in the forests near the town and erect it as a mastro (festival pole) in one of Capela’s squares. This festival tradition thus leads from the forest to the town square: the search for the tree and the raising of the mastro give it a clear sequence.

The Sarandaia has a different spatial form. On 1 June, a resident dressed as a “baiana”, accompanied by a pífano band and other celebrants, goes from door to door collecting prizes. Instead of gathering in one square, the group moves through the town. For planning your trip, 1 June is a specific reference point; if you are travelling to experience a particular festival tradition, it is worth checking the relevant date in advance.

Nature Conservation and Trail Planning

The Refúgio da Vida Silvestre Mata do Junco was established in 2007 and covers 894.76 hectares. Its conservation objectives include maintaining the conditions needed for the survival of the Coimbra titi monkey (Callibebus coimbai). Both the size of the protected area and the protection of a specific animal species are therefore among Capela’s nature-related features.

Mapping, trail layout and signage are central to the Trilha Interpretativa Pau-Brasil. The trail follows ABNT technical standards for mapping and structuring trails, as well as signage guidelines recommended by ICMBio. It is considered Sergipe’s first trail to have been mapped and adapted to safety standards. Unlike the Refúgio, whose protected area and species conservation objective are the focus, the Trilha is about the technical planning of a trail.

A Historical Point of Reference

Capela’s history can also be traced to a specific place and a clear sequence of events. In 1735, 100,000 réis were donated at the site of Tabuleiro da Cruz to build a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Purificação. The chapel was built two years later. The donation and the subsequent construction are two separate steps in the recorded history.

Cultural Highlights Elsewhere in the Wider Destination of Sergipe

Other places in the wider destination of Sergipe also have distinctive cultural highlights. In São Cristóvão, Praça São Francisco has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2010. In Estância, the handmade Barco de Fogo is made exclusively there; it is a historical and cultural heritage asset traditionally associated with the June festival. State Law No. 7,690 recognises it as cultural heritage of the people of Sergipe. These examples broaden the picture of Capela with other cultural highlights, each tied to its own location.

When choosing a destination, you can weigh up different interests: festival traditions with different formats, a protected area with a specific species conservation objective, a trail with distinctive planning standards, or a historical point of reference from the 18th century. The broader examples from Sergipe provide regional context without attributing other places’ themes to Capela.

Discover more destinations: Capela, Poço Redondo, Nossa Senhora da Glória, Indiaroba, Itabaiana, Brejo Grande

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Sergipe.