Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia, a World Heritage Site in Brazil

Salvador de Bahia, a port city in northeastern Brazil, was the capital of Portuguese Brazil from 1549 to 1763 and the site of the first slave market in the Americas. The city prospered from the sugar cane industry, and many colorful Renaissance-style buildings were built, which still retain their original appearance today.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Salvador de Bahia!

What is Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia?

A bay city in northeastern Brazil, it was named “Bay of Saints” after its discovery on All Saints’ Day in the early 16th century, and was given the name “Salvador (Savior)” when it became a colony in 1549. It then became the capital of Portuguese Brazil and remained so for more than 200 years until 1763, when it was moved to Rio de Janeiro.

Originally built for trading purposes, the city was a major Brazilian port and the center of the sugar industry and slave trade. The old town retains its Renaissance urban structure, and residential areas and government offices were built on top of an 85-meter-high hill. Major constructions, such as the Salvador Cathedral and the Church of San Francisco, were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. Many of the streets lined with colorful houses that were symbols of the colonial period are also remnants of those days.

Salvador was the first slave market in the Americas, and many slaves were brought from Africa to labor on sugar plantations. Therefore, during the 16th to 18th centuries, various cultures from Europe, Africa, and the United States began to merge, and they still remain in the music and food culture of the city. It is in this town that the samba was born, which also has its roots in the dances of residents of African descent.

Main registered components

Salvador Cathedral

The cathedral is based on a church built in the 16th century. Destroyed by the Dutch, reconstruction began in the 17th century and construction continued until the 18th century. It was reproduced in the Renaissance style and belonged to the Jesuits. A statue of Francis Xavier, who also did missionary work in Japan, remains on the facade.

Church and Convent of San Francisco

Although construction began in 1587, it was destroyed by the Dutch, who continued building until the 18th century. It is famous for its magnificent church with 55,000 azulejos (tiles fired with overglaze coating).

For what reason is the Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia a World Heritage Site?

Salvador de Bahia was recognized for

Registration Criteria (iv)
The structure of a downtown with a port and a hill with government offices means that it was a representative city in South America with a Renaissance-style urban structure.

Registration Criteria (vi)
Salvador de Bahia is a city where various European, African, and American cultures have merged, in that it is a city where music, cuisine, and even the culture of life lead to the Brazil of today.

Conclusions and Impressions of a World Heritage Maniac

The old town, with its many Renaissance-style buildings, is valued for its superior structure compared to other colonial cities. And it is also the root of the diversity of the country of Brazil, as samba was born in this town, and dishes with African culture can be seen here.

Incidentally, Capoeira, the martial art representing Brazil, also has its roots in this town, and was born from the martial arts and dance practiced by slaves.

*The contents of this page are based on the research conducted by a World Heritage enthusiast. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.