Best things to do in 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.

Vila Velha Unmissables — Map

Chico / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Penha Convent

Penha Convent is a convent in Vila Velha, Brazil, on the top of a high mountain overlooking the cities of Vitória and Vila Velha.

B

Forte de São Francisco Xavier de Piratininga

An 18th-century fortification built to defend the entrance of the Bay of Vitória. It currently serves as the headquarters for the 38th Infantry Battalion.

odeciojunior / CC BY 3.0

C

Morro do Moreno

A 184-meter-high hill offering panoramic views of the city and the Third Bridge. It features trails for hiking and spots for paragliding and rappelling.

Victortillas / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Farol de Santa Luzia

A 12-meter-high lighthouse inaugurated in 1871. The iron structure was pre-fabricated in Scotland and marks the entrance to the Vitória bay.

Fernando Curcio / CC-BY-SA

E

Palácio Anchieta

The seat of the state government, originally built as a Jesuit college in the 16th century. It houses the tomb of Saint José de Anchieta.

fabiogoveia / CC BY 2.0

F

Museu Vale

Housed in the 1927 Pedro Nolasco railway station, this museum documents the history of the Vitória-Minas Railway and features a massive model railway.

G

Praia da Costa

A central urban beach characterized by a wide sandy shore and a long boardwalk. The northern end, known as Praia da Sereia, offers calmer waters.

Giovanna Faustini / CC BY 2.0

H

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a Catholic temple located in the Prainha Historic Site, in the municipality of Vila Velha, in the…

Martins, Tito / CC BY 3.0

I

Third Bridge

The Deputy Darcy Castelo de Mendonça Bridge, colloquially known as the Third Bridge, is the second tallest bridge in Brazil, connecting the…

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