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Pelourinho

Old towns ·Salvador
4.217.7K
#4Old towns in BrazilTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
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About

Pelourinho: the old town of Salvador, in the state of Bahia, Brazil, with a historic center that is a World Heritage Site.

More photos 11

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Pelourinho — Colorful historic façades rising above the cobbled square Mtvdanilo · CC BY 4.0 · edited
Pelourinho — Colorful historic façades rising above the cobbled squarePelourinho — View down a busy cobbled street lined with colonial buildingsPelourinho — Elevated view over the square and its surrounding historic buildingsPelourinho — Blue and yellow façades with balconies along a cobbled streetPelourinho — Street-level view of pastel colonial buildings and balconiesPelourinho — Narrow cobbled street seen between rows of historic façadesPelourinho — Old tiled rooftops and a church tower in the historic districtPelourinho — Panorama of historic rooftops and churches across the districtPelourinho — Illuminated historic square and surrounding buildings at nightPelourinho — Blue and yellow façades with a large mural above the streetPelourinho — Blue colonial façade with balconies and a large mural

Why go

  • The spot where Michael Jackson filmed a music video in 1996.
  • Scenes of the soap opera Paraíso Tropical, filmed here in 2007.
  • The area as one of the main settings of the soap opera Segundo Sol.
  • The Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado, set up here in the 1980s to honor the writer.
  • The Casa do Benin cultural center, opened in 1988 to reflect ties between Bahia and Benin.

Don't miss

  • Praça José de Alencar, called PelôA small triangular square among the oldest parts of the town, nicknamed Pelô.Pelourinho, Salvador On the map
  • Two buildings in the lower part of the squareThey became well known after a 2007 film.Lower part of Praça José de Alencar2007 On the map
  • Bar e Restaurante Ceará, known as Bar de NeusãoThe building where a film dance scene was shot.Pelourinho, Salvador On the map

Photo spots

  • Praça José de AlencarStand in the small triangular square, one of the oldest parts of the town. The name Pelourinho means "plaza of the pillory".Pelourinho, Salvador On the map

Tips for your visit

  • The name Pelourinho also covers the wider area up to Terreiro de Jesus.

Interesting facts2

1/2

  1. Its name means "plaza of the pillory", a hint at what once happened around it.

    Salvador - Wikivoyage (see)

  2. Paul McCartney's video for Back in Brazil was shot here, among other music videos.

    Largo do Pelourinho - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The square takes its name from the pelourinho, a stone pillar where criminals were publicly shamed and punished. In colonial Brazil it was mainly used to punish enslaved people, and freed people too. Pelourinho was an exclusive place of worship for Black Brazilians, who were barred from the slave owners' church. Later, the area became a low-income neighborhood and a hub for Black culture. Groups such as Olodum became important political actors.

  1. 1549Tomé de Sousa founds Salvador, the city the old town belongs to.
  2. 17th centuryA fortress is built in the area to defend against Dutch and French invasions.
  3. 1790The city wall is demolished, and the mansions here begin to grow in size.
  4. 1950sEconomic activity moves to other parts of the city, and the area declines.
  5. Early 1990sRevitalization restores the facades and brings in bars, shops and schools.
Show all
  1. 2026A balcony attraction with a Michael Jackson image closes.

Sources: Largo do Pelourinho - Wikipedia · Salvador - Wikivoyage (see) · checked 17 Oct 2026

Where
Salvador

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Is Pelourinho in Salvador a World Heritage Site?

Yes. The historic district around Praça José de Alencar is protected as a World Heritage Site.

What is Pelô, the square in Pelourinho, Salvador?

Pelô is the nickname of the little triangular plaza, officially Praça José de Alencar. The name Pelourinho means "plaza of the pillory".

Is there a museum in Pelourinho, Salvador?

Yes. The Museu da Cidade opened in 1973 and is based in Pelourinho.

Was a music video filmed in Pelourinho, Salvador?

Yes. Paul McCartney's Back in Brazil video was filmed here, along with other music videos.

Which soap operas were filmed in Pelourinho, Salvador?

Two different soap operas were shot here. Scenes of Paraíso Tropical were filmed in 2007, and Segundo Sol used the area as one of its main settings.

Can visitors still see the Michael Jackson balcony in Pelourinho, Salvador?

No. The balcony attraction with a Jackson image closed in 2026.

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