JC. Princen Salvador’s crown jewel is its restored historic centre, Pelourinho. This means whipping posts. This was originally the tiny, triangular square in the centre of Salvador where enslaved people were publicly flogged.
Pelourinho is located on a high bluff with a view of the commercial centre below. It was constructed by the Portuguese during the boom years in the 18th and 19th centuries as an administrative and residential hub.
Pelourinho, abandoned for a more significant part of the 20th Century, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1985. Visitors can now visit its beautiful colonial houses, Baroque churches, and museums.
Museu Afro-Brasileiro
This museum is a showcase of Afro-Brazilian culture. Its highlights include the large wood carvings by Carybe of the Candomble deities.
Basilica Catedral
The cathedral was built in 1657. It has a restored altar made of cedar-wood and two smaller side altars. Both altars are covered in thin layers with gold.
Terreiro de Jesus,
One of the most picturesque squares in Pelourinho was created in 1549 by Governor Tome de Souza.
Igreja e Convento de Sao Francisco
Over the intricate carvings in this church, a silver chandelier weighs 176 lb (80kg).
Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosario dos Pretos
The church was built by slaves in 18th-century Brazil. It is still the heart of Afro-Brazilian traditions at Pelourinho.
