Historic Tour through the Cidade Alta and the Pelourinho
Two and a half hours on foot through Salvador's colonial heart — from the Lacerda Elevator to the Pelourinho, with stops at the churches, squares and terreiros that tell the story of Brazil's first capital.
The experience
A guided walk through Salvador's historic center — a UNESCO World Heritage site. We start at the Lacerda Elevator and Praça Tomé de Sousa, move through the Cathedral Basilica and Terreiro de Jesus, step inside the staggering gilded interior of the São Francisco church, descend to the Largo do Pelourinho and close at Rosário dos Pretos, the church built by enslaved Africans. Along the way, the official history and the one that didn't make the textbooks: the baroque city, Black resistance, Candomblé, capoeira, and the Salvador of Jorge Amado's novels.
Um passeio guiado pelo centro histórico de Salvador — Patrimônio da Humanidade pela UNESCO. Começamos no Elevador Lacerda e na Praça Tomé de Sousa, seguimos pela Catedral Basílica e pelo Terreiro de Jesus, passamos pela imponente Igreja de São Francisco com seu interior em ouro, descemos até o Largo do Pelourinho e fechamos na Igreja do Rosário dos Pretos, erguida pelos irmãos africanos escravizados. Pelo caminho, a história oficial e a que não entrou nos livros: a cidade barroca, a resistência negra, o candomblé, a capoeira e a literatura de Jorge Amado.
- Bahian historian guide
- Curated route through the historic centre
- Lacerda Elevator · Praça Tomé de Sousa
- Cathedral Basilica · Terreiro de Jesus
- Igreja de São Francisco (gilded interior)
- Largo do Pelourinho · Rosário dos Pretos
- Small group, easy pace
A setting
for the night
Every experience is staged with the same author's care as the suites — flowers, light, and details that turn a night into a scene.
Through the lens of those who were there
High-resolution photographs of the setting for this experience, with credit to each photographer.
Before you book
About 2h30. Book at least 24 hours in advance. Comfortable shoes required — Salvador is made of slopes. Available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Historic Tour is waiting for you
Email [email protected] with your dates and chosen suite. We confirm within 24 hours.