Tourism Center
The building where Forró com Turista takes place is an attraction in and of itself. The building that is today home to Natal’s Tourism Center has one of the most privileged views of Natal’s urban beaches, the Potengi River, the Reis Magos Fortress, and the Newton Navarro bridge (which links the city center to the neighborhood of Redinha). This is where people come together every week for Forró Com Turista.
The building was built at the turn of the XIX to the XX century in neoclassical style. Since it was built, it has been used as a private residence, mendicant asylum, an orphanage, a military safety area (during the 2nd World War) and was Natal’s public penitentiary until 1969.
In the 1970s, the building was restored in order to house “Natal’s Tourism Center”. It inaugurated as such on November 13, 1976 but wasn’t declared to behistoric and artistic patrimony until August 11, 1988.
The Tourism Center stands out as a pioneer in offering special services and products that are, for the most part, produced in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. When it inaugurated, no one imagined that Natal would transform into one of the main tourist poles in the country.
Today, the center is one of the best handicraft markets in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, whereby each old cell is a small store selling the most diverse displays of our local handicrafts. Currently the center is managed by a publicly recognized association and is overseen and supported by the State Tourism Secretariat.
The building houses:
- A touristinformationdesk;
- A historic memorial ofthebuilding;
- 42 storesselling regional handicrafts: femaleand male clothing, accessories, towels, layettes, tablecloths, ceramics, woodcarvings, palmand sisal;
- Anartgallery (1stfloor)withthelargestcollectionofartistic Works fromthestateof Rio Grande do Norte: typical art, paintings, sculptures, xilogravura (a typicaltypeofstorytelling), antiques in general andrare books;
- The traditional Forró com Turista, whichtakesplaceeveryThursdayat 10 pm;
- The MarenossoRestaurant, which serves regional andcontemporarydishesandhas a beautifulviewof four beaches. Among its menu items are thetraditionalBolinhos de Macaxeira (ManiocCroquettes) filledwitheithersundriedsteakorshrimp;
- Cell number 21 sells various regional products including cachaças that are 100% produced in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, two of which have earned international awards in Belgium and New York, respectively;
- A luncheonette which serves juices, sweets and snacks;
With over forty years worth of history, Natal’s Tourism Center has transformed into one of the main attractions for visitors to the city. The fact that it combines various services and options in a historic building is, without a doubt, a differential compared to other handicraft centers in Natal.
Those who visit the Tourism Center not only take away, but also keep fond memories of the place where they can find the best handicrafts, art and local Potiguar culture.