UNDISCOVERED BRAZIL

12-10-2010

 UNDISCOVERED BRAZIL: 16th Century Fishing Village of Trancoso Highlights Uxua Casa Hotel, Hidden Gem of Bahia

 

A to Z Thoughts about This Special World From Designer Wilber Das Who Created Uxua

 

TRANCOSO, BRAZIL, December 2010 ˆ Jesuits discovered the tiny coastal hamlet of Trancoso, Brazil, in the 16th century and 500 years later North American travelers are beginning to explore this unspoiled destination that time forgot. In 2009 Trancoso welcomed the arrival of UXUA Casa Hotel, a boutique property helmed by designer Wilbert Das (former Creative Director of Italian label Diesel) that brought understated, five-star accommodations to the village and in the process making it a premier destination for artists, celebs and fashion-world figures.

 

UXUA Casa Hotel is composed of 10 casas, some of which are restored colonial fisherman homes. All were crafted in collaboration with local artisans using traditional building methods and reclaimed materials. The casas are complimented by a restaurant, spa, a one-of-a-kind swimming pool formed of 40,000 green aventurine crystals, a beach bar crafted from old fishing boats, and 1 π acres of Eden-like, lush, tropical gardens.

 

UXUA was born as Wilbert Das‚s tribute to Trancoso, a pristine natural setting where ideals of environmental protection and respect for tradition have held sway for centuries. Below Wilbert passes along his A-Z list of reasons that make Trancoso a one-of-a-kind vacation spot to visit in 2011:

 

Architecture ˆ grassy, car-free town-square surrounded by brightly-colored colonial casas and Brazil‚s 2nd-oldest church, one of the most picturesque settings of South America

 

Beaches ˆ miles of pristine beaches snuggle up to ancient Atlantic mangroves and forests

 

Climate ˆ a tropical paradise, an average annual temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius) and warm ocean temperatures 12 months a year

 

Dining & Drinks ˆ Bahian cuisine is renowned as one of Brazil‚s finest, a spicy and hearty mix of flavors from African, Indian and Portuguese influences. Drinks from exotic local fruits and cocktails with the distinct flavor of cachaça, a liquor of distilled sugar-cane

 

Environmentalism ˆ a key movement in Trancoso born of ancient traditions and hippie immigrant influence of the 1970‚s ˆ resulting in the prohibition of autos from Trancoso‚s center in 1980, and the current pristine state of the town‚s historic areas and beaches

 

Feste ˆ large outdoor parties are held in Trancoso for countless occasions ˆ but perhaps most notably on the local patron Saints Days, the most outrageous events in town *NOTE: The largest party in town in 2011 will be the festa São Brás held on February 2nd and 3rd, with UXUA‚s own Wilbert Das nominated as festeiro ˆ or honorary host

 

Gloria ˆ known as Donna Gloria ˆ lives next-door to UXUA, a native healer, spectacular cook and great neighbor. Gloria is always ready for a chat with old or new friends

 

Horses ˆ graze in Trancoso‚s grassy town square and rival bicycles as the preferred form of transport in town

 

Iemanja ˆ the goddess of the sea ˆ terrifically important figure in Trancoso especially for native women whom she protects and who honor her by spreading her likeness all over town

 

Jesuits ˆ came in the 1500‚s and left not only the Quadrado casas and town plan but also the beautiful white Church of St. John (1582), poised on a cliff over the ocean

 

Kayaking - on Trancoso‚s four rivers or the ocean, almost as popular here as surfing

 

Lua cheia ˆ Portugese for full-moon ˆ natives know when it arrives and gather on the edge of the Quadrado to see it seemingly erupt over the Atlantic and into the night sky

 

Mirante ˆ the local name for the glorious view over the ocean from the Quadrado

 

Nature ˆ at the heart of Trancoso‚s allure is the spectacular natural setting, with endless miles of pristine beaches, forests, rivers, giving the effect of a giant tropical Eden

 

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