With Brazil playing host to FIFA World Cup in 2014, the excitement levels in this football mad country are already starting to build, and why not? Football may have it roots set in England, but for the purist there is only one nation that truly delivers. No other country has had such an impact on the world game and many believe that Brazil 2014 will see football finally come home. What cannot be disputed, is the stunning environment in which this World Cup will take place. Set amongst 12 different cities, each with their own unique feel and buzz, the atmosphere will be electric wherever you go.
I want to talk briefly about Natal here, but recently FIFA have begun profiling each of the elected cities so if you get the chance head over and check out all their destination on their website.
Natal City FIFA 2014 World Cup Stadium
Natal, located in the State of Rio Grande Norte is the closest city to mainland Europe in South America. Way back in December 1597, a group of Portuguese officials set off to reclaim the state which had fallen under the captaincy of a group of French buccaneers. The mission was a success and 12 days later the men started the construction on the Three Kings Fort, a fortress that still remains today and is recognised as the states most famous landmark. The following 300 years saw Natal grow at a moderate pace and it wasn’t until the 20th century that the necessary infrastructure started to support the growing tourism market in the region.
Known as Cidade do Sol (Sun City), the past 30 years have seen the city go from strength to strength. In the 1980′s the Via Costeira was constructed, a large coastal avenue that opened the area up to rest of Brazil, and proved a turning point in the development of the city. Originally, only popular with Brazilian tourists keen to escape the giant metropolis’s of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in recent times the city has rapidly opened itself up to the international scene. 300 days of sunshine each year, average daily temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius and air quality officially rated as the purest in the world. It is little wonder why Natal is attracting more and more European travelers. This past decade has seen the infrastructure and development accelerate even faster, and with the largest international airport in the country opening in 2012 the tourism sector is here is set to explode.
You can’t write a blog on the World Cup and not mention the football, so for all you football lovers Natal is home to 3 football teams Alecrim Futebol Clube, América Futebol Clube and ABC Futebol Clube, the latter two are the regions two premier teams and fierce rivals. The region has not had a team in the top flight of the nations league since the 1980′s, but don’t let this put you off going to a game. The intensity and passionate fans will still hold their own amongst some of the biggest teams in the world.
Tags: Brazil, FIFA World Cup, football, Natal
