João Pessoa, Paraíba

João Pessoa
Municipality of João Pessoa
Cabo Branco beachfront (center-left) and Tambaú beachfront (right)
Historic Center of João Pessoa with the Sanhauá River
Solon de Lucena Lagoon Park
Buraquinho Forest
Ponta do Seixas, easternmost point of the Americas
Estação Cabo Branco
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Nicknames: 
Sun Gate
Green City
California of Brazil
Brazilian city of handicrafts
Motto: 
INTREPIDA AB ORIGINE (Latin)
Fearless from the beginning
Location of João Pessoa in the state of Paraíba
João Pessoa
Location of João Pessoa in Brazil
Coordinates: 07°07′12″S 34°52′48″W / 7.12000°S 34.88000°W / -7.12000; -34.88000
Country Brazil
RegionNortheast
State Paraíba
FoundedAugust 5, 1585
Government
 • MayorCícero Lucena (PP)
Area
211.475 km2 (81.651 sq mi)
Elevation
40 m (130 ft)
Population
 (2024)
888,679
 • Density4,202.29/km2 (10,883.9/sq mi)
 • Metro
1,290,223
Demonympessoense (Portuguese)
Time zoneUTC−3 (UTC−3)
Postal code
58000-001 to 58099-999
Area code+55 83
HDI (2010)0.763 – high
Websitewww.joaopessoa.pb.gov.br

João Pessoa (/ˈʒwn pəˈsə/ ZHWOWN pə-SOH; Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈɐ̃w peˈsoɐ]) is a port city in northeastern Brazil. It is the largest city and capital of the state of Paraíba, with an estimated population of 888,679 (as of 2024). It is located on the right bank of the Paraíba do Norte river.

The new "Estação Ciência, Cultura e Artes" (Science, Culture and Art Station), located at the most eastern point of the Americas (Ponta do Seixas), is an educational and cultural institution as well as a national landmark. The complex, inaugurated in 2008, was created by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and is one of his final projects.

The capital of Paraíba received the title of Creative City by UNESCO in 2017, appointing João Pessoa as "Brazilian city of handicrafts".