Arês: Nature, History and Local Traditions

Discover Arês through a variety of experiences: short nature trails, traces of the municipality’s history, and a culinary tradition dating back to the Portuguese colonial period. When planning your trip, you can weigh up whether you’d most like to explore the landscape, culture or local way of life.

Nature Around Arês

Ilha do Flamengo is a natural tourist attraction in Arês, located in Lagoa de Guaraíras, in the district of Cercado Grande. Three different short trails wind through the local flora. Each takes around 15 to 20 minutes. This approximate duration is a useful guide for planning your day: you can think of the trails as brief nature experiences, rather than longer hikes.

Another natural attraction is Parque Natural Municipal José Mulato. It preserves a remnant of the Atlantic Forest within the municipality of Arês. If you’re interested in the municipality’s nature, this gives you another place to explore alongside the trails on Ilha do Flamengo. The two sites offer different experiences: the island is known for its short trails and contact with local flora, while the park preserves a remnant of this forest ecosystem.

Museum and Historical Landmarks

Museu Clidenor de Lima Galvão helps preserve the municipality’s material culture. It was founded under the name Museu de Arez. The museum houses objects from the 18th-century Jesuit mission of Guaraíras. It is located in a building attached to Igreja Matriz de São João Batista. For travellers interested in culture, it brings the municipality’s history together with tangible objects and a well-known religious building.

The gate of Arês cemetery is also a notable historical landmark. It dates from the 19th century and was built in 1882 by Frei Herculano. In 1962, IPHAN designated the gate as a protected monument. Its design features a curved pediment, a cornice and replicas of Corinthian columns. These architectural details give the structure a distinctive appearance, setting it apart from a simple gateway.

Another distinct reminder of Arês’s history is Cemitério dos Escravos. Until the end of the 19th century, it served as a burial place for enslaved people who died in Arês. Arês is also one of the municipalities where a collection of 37 protected religious images is located. These different landmarks offer several ways to explore the past: through a historic cemetery, a protected structure and religious art.

Traditions and Regional Cuisine

Festa de Reis is part of Arês’s cultural calendar and a tradition passed down through generations. A Festa de Reis organised by the municipal government brought residents and visitors together for a public programme. The festival is part of the town’s cultural identity, and may interest you if you’d like to explore local traditions as well as historic sites.

A local culinary speciality is Borralho: fish roasted over embers, considered in Arês a culinary heritage of the Portuguese colonial period. Together with Festa de Reis, it reveals a different side of the town from its museum and historical landmarks. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Arês, you can consider whether you’d prefer to focus on short nature trails, the municipality’s history, or culinary and cultural traditions when choosing your destination.

Discover More Places

If you’d like to explore other places in this area as well as Arês, take a look at Baía Formosa, Lagoa Nova, São Bento do Trairi, Nísia Floresta and Angicos.

For an overview of the wider region, see: Rio Grande Do Norte.