CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE IN THE CITY OF JUAZEIRO DO NORTE - CEARA AND THE AFFECTIVE HERITAGE PROTECTION THESIS IN GEOGRAPHY

Abstract

We present in this article the formulation of a thesis involving geography, affectivity and heritage. The thesis is based on the study of two distinct urban religious sites occupying the same space in downtown Juazeiro do Norte city, in the state of Ceara – Brazil. The first is the heritage complex Largo do Socorro Square. The second one, idealized as a tourist attraction, was implanted in the same square as a museum and memorial space. The analysis highlights particularly the conceptual difference between these two heritages and, in terms of these analysis, we present the thesis of affective protection heritage. We propose to discuss the thesis that Largo do Socorro Square is protected through human affectivity, since it is a space of strong symbolic dynamics based on popular religiosity. This square became an affective and social heritage through its strong social and cultural symbolism of religiosity.