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South AmericaBrazilRio Grande do Norte

Santa Cruz

Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil · South America

About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz sits on the route: 25 minutes from Lajes Pintadas.

Santa Cruz is a town located in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. With a population of 37,313, it is an important destination in South America.

On a road trip, Santa Cruz sits in Brazil, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Fortaleza time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Santa Cruz to your route.

About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the Northeast region of Brazil. The city is known for its St. Rita of Cascia Statue, the biggest Brazilian statue. According to the IBGE, in 2020, the city had a total population of 40,295. The city is located 115 km from Natal, the largest city and

Read more capital of Rio Grande do Norte. The area of the municipality of Santa Cruz was originally inhabited by the current Tapuia indigenous peoples. From 1831 onwards, Lourenço da Rocha, accompanied by João da Rocha and João Rodrigues da Silva, began the settlement of the place, with an economy based on agropastoral activity, which they soon called «Malhada do Juazeiro» and then «Santa Rita of the Waterfall". Legend has it that a certain one, knowing this tradition, thought of the village and sent a cross, made with some branches of this tree. Then, in front of Santa Rita de Cássia, where all the weapons of the population of this order were, being all the weapons of this native order, there was a great order. With this fact, the village had its name changed to «Santa Cruz do Inharé». In 1835, the chapel of Santa Rita de Cássia was built, which further stimulated the growth of the village. An image of the saint, coming from the Cachoeira farm, was donated to the chapel. In the same year, provincial law no. 24, dated 27 March, elevates the village to the status of district, with the name “Santa Cruz da Ribeira do Trairi”. On the 30th of 1914, the state law 372, the village was declared inferior to the condition of a city, having its name changed to «Santa Cruz». At the same time, the district of Tangará was created, passing through the municipality to be constituted by four districts. On December 31, 1958, the districts of Tangará and Trairi were dismembered, which gave rise to the municipality of Tangará and Campo Redondo. On October 24, 1962, a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court extinguished the municipality of Campo Redondo, which returned to belonging to the municipality of Santa Cruz, but was again dismembered on March 26, 1963. Since then, the municipality of Santa Cruz has preserved its natural divisions. In November 2007, on Monte Carmelo, construction began on a statue dedicated to the patron saint of the municipality, Santa Rita de Cássia.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Santa Cruz

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Santa Cruz?

Plan your road trip to Santa Cruz with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Santa Cruz as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Santa Cruz located?

Santa Cruz is located in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, South America. The coordinates are -6.2294 latitude, -36.0228 longitude.

What is the population of Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz has a population of approximately 37,313 people, making it a town in Brazil.

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Quick Information

Population
37,313
Continent
South America
Country
Brazil
Region
Rio Grande do Norte
Timezone
America/Fortaleza
Coordinates
-6.2294, -36.0228

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Brazil

Police
190
Ambulance
192
Fire
193
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Brazil

Tags

South AmericaBrazilRio Grande do NorteTown

When to drive here

Year-round

Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Santa Cruz.

Lajes Pintadas

🇧🇷 Brazil

14 km awayPop. 4,787

São Bento do Trairi

🇧🇷 Brazil

14 km awayPop. 3,792

Campo Redondo

🇧🇷 Brazil

18 km awayPop. 10,215

Sítio Novo

🇧🇷 Brazil

19 km awayPop. 4,654

Tangará

🇧🇷 Brazil

25 km awayPop. 13,281

Coronel Ezequiel

🇧🇷 Brazil

27 km awayPop. 5,117

Japi

🇧🇷 Brazil

28 km awayPop. 5,117

São Tomé

🇧🇷 Brazil

29 km awayPop. 9,972

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence