In the mid-1500s , Portuguese settlers from Pernambuco founded FilipÃ ia de Nossa Senhora das Neves ( today JoÃ # o Pessoa ) at the mouth of the ParaÃ ba do Norte River . In the mid-16th century , Portuguese settlers from Pernambuco founded FilipÃ ia de Nossa Senhora das Neves ( today JoÃ # o Pessoa ) at the mouth of the ParaÃ ba do Norte River .