Park & nature
Itapagipe Peninsula
Tiago Celestino from Bahia, Brazil · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
The Itapagipe Peninsula is a historic area in Salvador, Brazil, settled soon after the city's founding in the mid-16th century. It includes neighborhoods like Bonfim, Ribeira, and Boa Viagem beach, and is home to several protected historic structures, including the Church of Our Lady of Penha at its northern tip.
Don't miss
- Church of Our Lady of Penha, one of the earliest structures on the peninsula
- Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim
- Fort of Monserrate (Forte do Monte Serrat)
- Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Monserrate
- Church and Hospice of Our Lady of the Good Journey
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Itapagipe Peninsula
You can explore Itapagipe Peninsula at your own pace. A tour is worth it mainly for transport, or for pairing it with nearby sights in one day.
Cheapest way inCity Tour Salvador Historica4.8★ · 132 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$20 per personSee dates →
Most bookedPrivate Walking Tour of Salvador Pelourinho4.9★ · 315 travelers2-3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$60 per personSee dates →
Private & flexiblePrivate Full-Day Tour - Salvador's Lower & Upper City5★ · 54 travelers~7 hoursFree cancellationFrom$130 per personSee dates →Know before you go
- The name 'Itapagipe' means 'place of the stone in the river' in the Tupi language.
- The peninsula includes neighborhoods like Alagados, Bonfim, Ribeira, and Boa Viagem beach.
- Many historic structures here are protected by federal, state, and municipal authorities.
A bit of history
The peninsula was settled soon after Salvador was founded in the mid-16th century. In the early 19th century, Viceroy Marcos de Noronha moved the city's administration here after landslides in Salvador's historic center. A navigable channel was planned at the isthmus but never built.
Common questions
How do I get to the Itapagipe Peninsula?
The peninsula is part of Salvador, with Rua Fernandes Viêira and Avenida Afrânio Peixoto roughly forming its boundary with the rest of the city.
What historic sites can I see on the peninsula?
Sites include the Church of Our Lady of Penha, Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Fort of Monserrate, and the Church and Monastery of Our Lady of Monserrate, among others.
Why was the peninsula important in Salvador's history?
After landslides in Salvador's historic center, Viceroy Marcos de Noronha moved the city's administration to the peninsula in the early 1800s.
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