Free Tour of Santo Antônio Além do Carmo & Pelourinho

Tour Highlights

We'll meet at the scheduled time at Largo de Santo Antônio Além do Carmo at the center of the square. Once assembled, we'll set off on a free tour through the neighborhoods of Santo Antônio Além do Carmo and Pelourinho. Get ready to delve deep into the soul of Salvador da Bahia!

The tour will begin by exploring the various churches of Santo Antônio Além do Carmo. We'll stroll along Rua dos Carvões, a location preserving traces of African religions woven into the city's fabric. We'll learn about the poignant history of Salvador's slaves and the legends that echo through time.

Then, we'll navigate Rua Direita, where Santo Antônio Além do Carmo reveals its artistic side through vibrant graffiti. Admire the architectural details and pause at the Church of Boqueirão, situated on what was once a trench defending Salvador.

We'll pause at the Cruz do Pascaoal monument, crafted in 1743 by Portuguese Pascoal Marques de Almeida and inspired by the bell towers of 18th-century Bahian churches. The journey will continue with visits to the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church and the Santíssimo Sacramento do Passo Church—two of Salvador de Bahia's largest. Then we'll explore Afro-Brazilian cultural connections at the Casa do Benin.

Next, we'll leave the Santo Antônio Além do Carmo neighbourhood behind and head over to Pelourinho. We'll walk through streets full of mansions from the 17th and 18th centuries that give this area a special charm. Did you know that UNESCO has recognised this neighbourhood as a World Heritage Site?

Afterwards, we'll enter the Largo do Terreiro de Jesus, in the Praça XV de Novembro, where we'll find the cathedral, the Church of the Third Order of São Domingos Gusmão and the Church of São Pedro dos Clérigos. We'll also visit the monument of the Fallen Cross.

To finish our tour, we'll go to the Carnaval Museum, an interactive museum where we'll discover in depth the history, culture and evolution of the Baianao Carnival, one of the most famous in the world. Inaugurated in 2018, the space offers an immersion into the traditions of Salvador's Carnival through exhibitions that highlight the blocos, trios elétricos, costumes and great icons of the festival, such as the samba, axé and other rhythms.

We'll say goodbye after a total of 2.5 hours—see you next time!