The city grew and developed on the right bank of the Rio Potengi. And our three hundred days of sunshine that nature gives Natal, three hundred beautiful spectacles at sundown, when the sun king leaves the city.

Natalense and tourists that visit Natal have a compromise, whenever possible, to see this beautiful sight. The sundown sight on right bank of the Rio Potengi. Daily, hundreds of persons line the sidewalks along the old Contorno Ave. or occupy the steps that acess the Pedra do Rosário to contemplate this sight. For about 10 - 15 minutes in which all their weariness, difficulties and sadness of day to day disappear and in their place is a peace of spirit and well being.

The spectacle has a time to start and finish. It is good to arrive at 17:00, when the sun rays are reflected in the placid waters of the river , initially appearing golden, afterwards silver and finish red and black, depending on the presence of clouds in the sky. The passage is enriched with the passing of sailboats or canoes paddling on the river below.

From blue to purple

The sky is full of colors. Intense solid blue, trademark of Natal, is leaving and the color arriving . The while clouds start turning gold, with a background of red sky and scattered traces of color until it finally turns purple as the sun leaves. The sun is no longer shining on the horizon, but for a few minutes the clearness of the occasion appears as from God. Depending on the season, the sun changes a little its position. But from any point, it hides behind the rich mangroves and lights up another part of Natal on the left side of the Potengi.

The view of the sunset on the river is not an exclusive privilege for those on the sidewalks or at the Pedra do Rosário, it also enchants whoever is on the ferry crossing the river between Redinha and Santos Reis, those that are at the Centro de Artesanato at the old prison or the tall buildings of Petrópolis, center of the city or Tirol.

Porto Seguro da Santa

The Pedra do Rosário also is a local revered location for the Catholics of Natal. For here is where is kept a statue of Nossa Senhora da Apresentação, patron saint of the city, an a message which that where this statue is receives an eternal blessing from Mãe de Jesus (mother of Jesus). Who knows if that the fishermen of the Rio Potengi where they meet, having just returned from the sea, the end of the evening, they visit the Saint between the gold and silver rays of the sunset of Potengi.