It is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Pernambuco. Caruaru is located in the microzone of Agreste and because of its cultural importance, it is nicknamed Capital do Agreste (Portuguese for the "capital city of the Agreste region"), Princesinha do Agreste ("Little Princess of Agreste"), and Capital do Forró ("the capital city of forró"). Caruaru has a history intertwined with the most famous of northeastern music genres - the forró. Forró is the umbrella term that covers a variety of different subgenres like 'baião, quadrilha, xaxado or xote, all having in common the same basic instruments: accordion, triangle, guitar and percussion. Luiz Gonzaga (1912 - 1989) is perhaps the best-known composer of the genre and to this day there is a museum dedicated to him in Caruaru, the Museu do Forró Luiz Gonzaga, where visitors can learn more about his life and works.
The city is located 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the state capital of Recife, which has an international airport. However Caruaru has its own airport. Also it is renowned for its extensive Festival de São João ("Saint John's Festival"), which takes up the whole month of June, sometimes extending into July.
Economy
The main economic activities in Caruaru are industry (especially textiles), tourism, commerce, and handicraft, and the primary sector, especially the raising of goats, chickens, and cattle, and the production of milk. Agricultural activity in the Caruaru area also includes beans, cassava, and corn. Caruaru also hosts one of the biggest open-air traditional handicrafts markets of Brazil, the Feira de Caruaru. (search: wikipedia)
Pictures: Google and wikipedia
