In Barra, travel interests range from fortress history and photography to activities on the water. At what is now Porto da Barra, Governor-General Tomé de Sousa landed with men and supplies on March 29, 1549, founding the city of São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos. This historical connection and today’s coastal activities offer different focal points for your stay.
Fortress History with Specific Dates
Forte São Diogo is part of the fortress complex of Barra in Salvador. Forte Santo Antônio and Forte Santa Maria are also part of the same complex. The three names locate the fortifications and give your exploration a historical focus. The city’s founding takes us back to today’s Porto da Barra: Tomé de Sousa landed there on March 29, 1549. Another date belongs to a later monument. The Marco de Fundação da Cidade do Salvador was inaugurated on March 29, 1952.
The Marco is a vertical monument carved from Portuguese Lioz stone. It bears the symbol of the Portuguese Crown and the Cross of Christ. The years 1549 and 1952 mark two distinct historical connections: the city’s founding at today’s Porto da Barra and the monument’s inauguration.
Collections and Photography
The collection at the Museu Náutico da Bahia includes historical objects from different eras. Some lay underwater for up to 300 years; this timeframe refers to individual pieces, not the collection as a whole. The museum is housed in the fort where Farol da Barra is located. Individual exhibits may change, while the collection includes a variety of historical objects.
For a different perspective, visit Espaço Pierre Verger da Fotografia Baiana at Forte de Santa Maria on Porto da Barra in Salvador. It is dedicated to promoting and disseminating photography from Bahia and showcases the work of the Franco-Bahian ethnologist and photographer Pierre Verger, as well as more than 100 photographers born in Bahia or who lived there, even temporarily. The published collection figure is more than 5,000 photographs. With interactive and virtual presentations, visitors can create their own exhibition from the collection. In this way, historical objects at the Museu Náutico are complemented by a photographic collection that also invites visitors to curate their own display.
Swimming, Water Sports and Surf
Porto da Barra is suitable for a peaceful swim in the sea, as well as Hawaiian canoeing and stand-up paddling. Conditions for water sports may vary. A different focus is the stretch of beach near Cristo, also known as Praia Barravento: it has strong waves and is recommended for advanced surfers. Sea conditions also vary. Near Farol, natural pools form on Barra beach at low tide. If you want to see this formation, the right time to visit depends on the tide.
Getting Around the Waterfront Promenade
People cycle, run and walk along Barra’s waterfront promenade bike path; skateboarding and inline skating are also popular activities there. This offers different ways to get active along the coast. When planning your stay, you can combine this focus with the fortresses, the two distinct museum offerings or time by the water, without turning all the activities into a single itinerary item.
When looking for a hotel in Barra, you can start by considering which side of the area you want to shape your trip: fortress history, photography and collections, or activities on the water.
Discover more destinations: Valença, Canavieiras, Monte Gordo, Anagé, Cairu, Gamboa, Baixa Grande, Morro De São Paulo
For the broader travel overview: Bahia.
