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Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia

Salvador · Brazil

Background

World Heritage since
1985
Type of site
Cultural
Capital of Brazil
1549–1763

As the first capital of Brazil, from 1549 to 1763, Salvador de Bahia witnessed the blending of European, African and Amerindian cultures. UNESCO notes it was also, from 1558, the first slave market in the New World, and that the old town keeps many outstanding Renaissance buildings and brightly coloured houses decorated with fine stucco.

The historic centre is known as the Pelourinho, after the pillory in its central square where enslaved Africans were punished. Its monuments run from the 17th to the 19th century, from the Mannerist cathedral to the Baroque church of São Francisco, and the quarter remains a hub of Afro-Brazilian cuisine, religion and music. Wikivoyage says the Terreiro de Jesus is the liveliest part of town, and that a 100 m cliff divides the upper and lower cities.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1549The Portuguese found Salvador as Brazil's first capital
  2. 1558The first slave market in the New World
  3. 1763The capital moves to Rio de Janeiro
  4. 1933The Igreja da Sé is demolished, spurring Brazil's first heritage laws
  5. 1985Inscribed as World Heritage
  6. 1990sRestoration of the Pelourinho begins

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Igreja de São Francisco
    The gold-lined Baroque church; the GoGo guide starts the day here.
  2. 2
    Largo do Pelourinho
    The small triangular square named after the pillory, among the oldest parts of town.
  3. 3
    Terreiro de Jesus
    The square by the cathedral, with food stalls by day and crowds by night.
  4. 4
    Museu Afro-Brasileiro
    The slave trade and the carved orixá panels.
  5. 5
    Lacerda Elevator
    The art deco lift between upper and lower town.
  6. 6
    Mercado Modelo
    The craft market in the lower town, with capoeira in the square outside.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Upper and Lower Town
Wikivoyage: the old centre is easy on foot; take the Elevador Lacerda between the two levels.
Olodum on Tuesdays
The GoGo guide has Olodum's drummers in the Pelourinho on Tuesday nights, or a capoeira show.
Keep Your Guard Up
Wikivoyage recommends a high degree of caution at the tourist sites spread across the city.
Bonfim Ribbons
The Bonfim church to the north is one of Brazil's great pilgrimage sites; its coloured wish ribbons are tied round the wrist.

Pelourinho and the Lower Town

From the GoGo Salvador guide · Open the Salvador Guide ›

  1. 09:00
    Igreja de São Francisco1 hr
    The gold-lined Baroque church.
  2. 10:15
    Largo do Pelourinho90 min
    Pastel colonial streets.
  3. 14:00
    Lacerda Elevator30 min
    The lift between upper and lower town.
  4. 14:45
    Mercado Modelo75 min
    The craft market.
  5. 19:30
    Moqueca Baiana90 min
    Fish stew in coconut milk in Rio Vermelho.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Jun–Sep, Dec. Rainy season May.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest May (166 mm), driest Dec (57 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Discovery Coast forest reserves are 255 km south and São Cristóvão's São Francisco Square 260 km north; the bay islands and Praia do Forte are the day trips.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 309 · Wikipedia: Historic Center of Salvador · Wikivoyage: Salvador (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Salvador guide · UNESCO listing