By JB Bissell, Sophie Cole, Steve Gorten, Emily Schlorf
When binge-watching the History channel is not enough and you’re in need of a vacation that takes you back in time, historical sightseeing is just the ticket. Equal parts informative and inspiring, plus, mildly invigorating, historical walking tours can take you to sites from bygone eras at various locations around the world. Some are well known; others might be less familiar. Either way, it’s worth checking out these points of interest that embody days past:
Bahia, Brazil
Stroll the streets of Salvador, Bahia’s capital, and experience a sensory overload: Step to the beat of electrifying African drums, see the brilliant stuccowork of candy-colored Renaissance-style structures, and smell the sweet aroma of Indigenous beijus (tapioca crepes) smothered in sweetened condensed milk. Indeed, the convergence of European, African, and Indigenous cultures can be felt within minutes of touching down in Bahia.
For travelers looking for a depth of history — including both the nation’s triumphs and poignant misdoings — a visit to this northeastern state is worthwhile.
- Centro Histórico de Salvador, Bahia (Historical Center of Salvador, Bahia): The oldest part of town is known as Pelourinho — or Pelo to locals. Among the joyfully painted 17th- and 18th-century architecture once lied the New World’s first slave market. Today, it’s been reclaimed as a center of thriving African culture. For more insight into this important UNESCO World Heritage site, guided history tours are available.
- Church and Convent of São Francisco: With an average exterior façade constructed to belie the extravagant interior, the Brazilian Baroque–style church was completed in 1723, making it ineffably ornate … so much so that it was named one of the seven wonders of Portuguese origin in the world.
- Lacerda Elevator: A curious right angle–shaped building stands adjacent to the cliff Pelourinho is perched on. Its claim to fame is that it was the world’s first public elevator. The revolutionary invention first started transporting people from the lower part of Salvador (Cidade Baixa) to the upper portion (Cidade Alta) in 1873.
- Marco do Descobrimento (Discovery Landmark): This rectangular piece of engraved stone is one of Brazil’s oldest surviving monuments: the Portuguese used it in the 14th century to stake their claim of the region, changing the course of both countries’ histories forever.
- Trancoso’s Quadrado: Once a sleepy fishing village established by Portuguese Jesuit priests in 1500, Trancoso gained popularity in the 1970s when ex-pat hippies discovered its allure. See Trancoso’s Quadrado — the town’s main “quad” that’s actually rectangular — home to vibrant-hued fishing houses and a 16th-century whitewashed church overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When your destination includes two world-renowned beaches — Copacabana and Ipanema — as well as one of the planet’s most recognizable statues — the mountaintop Christ the Redeemer — it might be easy to overlook the regional history. But Rio de Janeiro is close to 500 years old, so there are plenty of enlightening attractions that pair well with afternoons spent on the sand.
- Praça XV de Novembro: This square is generally considered the first section of development for what grew into the Marvelous City. Multiple old buildings and churches can be seen here.
- Ilha Fiscal: Take a ferry from the dock adjacent to Praça XV for a guided tour of Ilha Fiscal, a neo-Gothic palace that opened in April 1889. It hosted what turned out to be the last imperial ball some seven months later in November.
- Arcos da Lapa: Constructed in the mid-1700s, this architectural marvel was used to transport water from the nearby forest to the burgeoning municipality.
- Mosteiro de São Bento: The ornate gilt interior of this completely unassuming-from-the-outside church is simply astonishing. Dating to the early to mid-1600s, this old monastery also houses important wood carvings and paintings, including Ricardo do Pilar’s Christ in Martyrdom, which hangs in the sacristy.
- Copacabana Palace: The Copacabana Palace turned 100 years old in 2023. Sure, date-wise, it’s not as historical as these other sites, but the history that’s been packed into that single century certainly makes a stop here worthwhile. (Plus, it overlooks Copacabana Beach, so you can go straight from wandering the Hall of Fame celebrity-portrait gallery to digging your toes in the sand.)
