Wanderlust of a Flâneur: Taubaté (São Paulo, Brazil)

State: São Paulo

Country: Brazil

My Commentaries: In Vale do Paraíba region, Taubaté is the second stronges city in general considerations (after the first one São José dos Campos). Taubaté is also a very traditional city in therms of History but nowadays its History is forgotten by people and politicians and it's not a so cosy town as its neighbour town Pindamonhangaba, but no doubt it's an urban and structured place.

Links:

Esporte Clube Taubaté (Facebook) - Traditional football team of the city

Almanaque Urupês - Interesting articles about local History (portuguese)

Interesting Facts:

- Monteiro Lobato, a famous Brazilian writter, was born in Taubaté. He was positive about the independence of São Paulo during the Paulista Revolution of 1932.

- Taubaté has its own Italian community named Quiririm, formed today by descendants of Italian immigrants. The community has its museum (Circolo Italiano di Taubaté) and its Italian festival yearly.

- Amácio Mazzaropi was born in Taubaté. He was comic film maker and an actor using the name of Jeca Tatu. Mazzaropi showed in his movies much of the local folk culture, the caipira way of life.

History of Taubaté:

Taubaté was part of the ancient Tupinamba Territory, along the Paraiba do Sul River. The Tupinamba Territory in the 16th century, stretched from the Juqueriquerê River on the shores of Caraguatatuba to the Cape of Saint Thomas (Cabo de São Tomé) in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The first village was created in 1640 being proclaimed as an autonomous locality on December 5, 1645, by a pioneer named Jacques Felix. It was the first location in the Vale do Paraiba region to obtain autonomy. The locality got its current city status in 1842. By that time, it was one of the most important coffee production centers in the country, hosting the Taubaté's Agreement in 1906. In 1908, the city was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Taubaté. In 1900 was the largest city in the interior of the State of São Paulo.

The county name comes from the Guarani language and means village (taba) high (ybaté).

In 1891, Taubaté was one of the first cities in Brazil to industrialize. With the CTI (Companhia Taubaté Industrial), a Textile Industry. (Wikipedia)

Anthem of Taubaté:

The anthem of Taubaté was chosen by members of the Academia Paulista de Letras in a competition held in 1975. The lyrics were composed by Pericles Nogueira Santos. The melody was written by José Braulio de Sousa. The score of the anthem was approved by the Comissão Municipal de Música in 1985.

Lyrics:

Taubaté das Bandeiras - que ousaram

desbravar ínvias selvas, com glória.

Taubaté, cujos filhos não param,

sempre em marcha nas asas da História.

Taubaté das Moções, na erradia

epopéia por rios e lapas,

qual titã a fazer Geografia,

implantando fronteiras nos mapas!

A louvar-te, com ânsia,

tanjam todos os sinos...

Vens de longa distância,