Castelo Armorial

Standing in the town São José do Belmonte, the Armorial Castle was designed to reflect the surrounding environment. It features geometric, stacked layers and sculpted faces based on real members of the local community who were selected from hundreds of applicants. A small green space at the base contains native plants and is maintained using wastewater and storm runoff.

Built between 2007 and 2017 by entrepreneur Clécio Novaes, the structure was designed to be visually striking without disrupting the daily life of the town. It is meant to capture the essence of the Armorial Movement, which was led by Brazilian writer and artist Ariano Suassuna and aimed to blend popular and classical art traditions, and drawing from medieval and baroque influences. The castle has a multi-floor installation displaying work from the Armorial Movement, including Suassuna’s illuminated engravings on the first floor, J. Borge’s woodcuts on the second floor, photographs of São José do Belmonte on the third floor, and a scenic depiction of the sertão during the coronelismo era on the top floor.

The front towers evoke the castle of Dom Sebastião from Suassuna’s novel A Pedra do Reino, while the rear towers reference the Cavalhadas (festivals representing battles between Christians and Moors).

A notable feature of the castle is a carved sculpture of Padre Cícero, a significant religious figure in the region. It and the other artworks highlight the connection between the castle and the local identity.