Vila Velha

Province ·🇧🇷 Brazil

Population 472,762

Area 211 km²

Time zone America/Sao_Paulo

Official website www.vilavelha.es.gov.br

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Explore Vila Velha

Vila Velha Unmissables

Vila Velha, the oldest settlement in Espírito Santo, is anchored by the 16th-century Penha Convent and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. The city’s maritime history is preserved at the 1871 Santa Luzia Lighthouse and the 18th-century Forte de São Francisco Xavier. Modern landmarks include the 3.3-kilometer Third Bridge and the Museu Vale, located in a restored 1927 railway station. For nature, the 184-meter Morro do Moreno and the urban sands of Praia da Costa offer expansive views across the Bay of Vitória.

9 places

Beautiful Beaches

Vila Velha’s coastline features diverse environments, from the calm, wheelchair-accessible waters of Praia da Sereia to the natural reef pools of Praia dos Recifes. Northern urban beaches offer infrastructure for night sports and kiosks, while southern stretches like Ponta da Fruta are known for historic 16th-century landmarks and surfing. This collection covers the major sandy and gravel shores stretching from Morro do Moreno down to the southern border.

11 places

Notable Religious Sites

Vila Velha’s religious landscape is anchored by the 16th-century Penha Convent, a landmark sanctuary built atop a 154-meter granite cliff. This collection includes the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, one of Brazil's oldest colonial-era temples located in the Prainha district. Beyond these historic Catholic sites, the list features a variety of community-focused houses of worship, including Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist, and Maranata churches, reflecting the city’s spiritual diversity and architectural range from colonial history to modern neighborhood chapels.

19 places

Local Markets & Greengrocers

Vila Velha’s street markets, known as feiras livres, are a cornerstone of local life, rotating through neighborhoods like Aribiri, Cobilândia, and Araçás on specific days. These open-air markets specialize in fresh regional produce, artisanal cheeses, and traditional snacks like pastel and sugarcane juice. The selection also features dedicated organic fairs and shops offering rural goods from the Espírito Santo highlands, providing a direct link between regional farmers and the community.

12 places

Local Eateries & Regional Flavors

Explore the culinary landscape of Vila Velha through a selection that spans from coastal seafood joints to rural farm-style retreats. This list features Capixaba specialties like moqueca and fresh crab alongside traditional Mineiro cuisine and Mediterranean influences. You will find established seafood restaurants near the beaches of Itaparica and Praia da Costa, as well as casual Arabic eateries, Italian cantinas, and local delis specializing in regional sweets and cheeses.

24 places