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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.