Origins and first inhabitants

First of all, before the arrival of the Portuguese, the island was inhabited by Tupinambá peoples, who lived from fishing, hunting and farming. Then, in the early 16th century, the first contacts took place with European navigators entering the bay.

Later, over the course of that century, the first settlements took shape, with the presence of Jesuit missionaries. One example of this is the old church of Baiacu, now in ruins, one of the oldest buildings on the island.

Colonial period: the Capitania de Itaparica

Shortly after the founding of Salvador, in 1552, Governor-General Tomé de Sousa granted the islands of Itaparica and Matarandiba as a sesmaria (land grant) to D. Antônio de Ataíde, the Conde da Castanheira. Soon afterwards, in 1556, King D. João III turned these lands into the Capitania de Itaparica e Tamarandiva, which lasted until Independence in 1822.

At the same time, Diogo Álvares Correia, known as Caramuru, acted as a mediator between Indigenous peoples and colonizers throughout the bay region. For this reason, he is a central figure in the memory of the Capitania da Baía de Todos os Santos. Meanwhile, agrarian settlement, with land grants and sugar mills, shaped the island’s territory.

Economy: sugarcane, cattle and whaling

Over the centuries, the local economy included sugarcane farming, cattle raising and, most notably, whaling. In fact, from the 17th century onwards, the so-called whaling stations operated on the island, where the animals’ blubber was turned into oil for lighting.

The activity remained intense until the 19th century and, therefore, had a strong impact on the environment and the communities. Later on, artisanal fishing and tourism became the main economic activities.

The Dutch invasion

In 1647, during the wars against the Netherlands, Dutch troops led by Sigismund von Schkoppe occupied part of Itaparica. Soon after, at Ponta da Baleia, they built a small earthen fort, which withstood a Portuguese attack in October of that year.

However, the Dutch abandoned the island shortly afterwards and destroyed the fort as they withdrew to Recife. Later, in 1711, the Portuguese built the Forte de São Lourenço on the same site in order to strengthen the defense of the bay.

Itaparica and the Independence of Bahia

Thanks to its strategic position at the entrance to the bay, the island played a decisive role in the Independence of Bahia. Thus, on January 7, 1823, Brazilian forces stationed at the Forte de São Lourenço repelled an attack by Portuguese troops in what became known as the Battle of Itaparica.

First of all, the heroes of this episode include Tenente João das Botas (Lieutenant João das Botas), who commanded the Brazilian flotilla in the bay. In addition, local tradition celebrates Maria Felipa de Oliveira, a Black woman and shellfish gatherer who, according to accounts, led island residents against the Portuguese. To this day, January 7 is Itaparica’s main civic holiday.

Geography and administrative division

In short, Itaparica is the largest of the islands of the Baía de Todos os Santos and lies opposite Salvador, with regular ferry and speedboat crossings. Administratively, the island is divided between the municipalities of Itaparica, to the north, and Vera Cruz, which covers most of the territory.

In addition, the coastline features reefs, coves, beaches with natural pools, mangroves and stretches of Atlantic Forest.

See the map of the Baía de Todos os Santos

Historic ensemble and heritage listing

First, in 1980, IPHAN (Brazil’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute) listed the Architectural, Urban and Landscape Ensemble of Itaparica’s center, with its squares, streets, alleys and mansions. Before that, the Forte de São Lourenço had already been listed since 1938 and the Igreja de São Lourenço since 1952.

More recently, in 2020, the city government recognized the Fonte da Bica and the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade as municipal cultural heritage. As a result, the historic ensemble guides the town’s preservation efforts.

Videos about the Beaches and History of Itaparica Island

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Centro Histórico da Ilha de Itaparica10:31

7 Melhores praias de Vera Cruz22:57

Praia da Penha na Ilha de Itaparica04:04

Guia de Turismo da ILHA DE ITAPARICA - Dicas13:18

O BRASIL COMEÇOU NA ILHA DE ITAPARICA11:40

História da Ilha de Itaparica

Ilha de Itaparica - Dicas de Viagem07:23

Ilha de Itaparica - Documentário26:02

To plan your trip, also see our complete guide to Itaparica Island, with beaches, how to get there and tips.

Monuments and heritage sites

In summary, Itaparica’s heritage inventory includes churches, forts, manor houses, fountains and ruins that tell centuries of the history of Itaparica Island. The main ones include:

Forts and churches

• Forte de São Lourenço – built in 1711 on the site of a former Dutch fort, it was the setting of the Battle of January 7, 1823. Moreover, it has been listed by IPHAN since 1938.
• Igreja Matriz do Santíssimo Sacramento – the main church in the center, with a collection of sacred art. For this reason, it is part of the ensemble listed in 1980.
• Igreja de São Lourenço – a 17th-century colonial church, among the oldest buildings on the island. It is also listed by IPHAN, since 1952.
• Capela Nossa Senhora do Bom Despacho – a historic chapel that is part of the local religious heritage.

Mansions, fountains, ruins and cultural spaces

• Historic townhouses and mansions – among them, the Solar d’el Rei and the 17th-century Sobrado Tenente João das Botas, which make up the preserved urban fabric.
• Fonte da Bica – built in 1842, it became a symbol of the town. Consequently, since 2020 it has been municipal cultural heritage.
• Ruins of the Igreja de Baiacu (Igreja do Senhor da Vera Cruz) – in Vera Cruz, the ruins stand out because the roots of large gameleira fig trees wrap around the walls.
• Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Penha – a historic church still in use, which is a religious landmark on the island.
• Biblioteca Juracy Magalhães Júnior and cultural spaces – the library, opened in 1968, is located in the historic center. Furthermore, the island preserves the memory of the writer João Ubaldo Ribeiro, born in Itaparica in 1941.
• Squares, streets and landscapes of the historic center – the preserved urban ensemble, with squares and churchyards that are also part of the listed heritage.

Beaches and nature

Today, the island has more than 40 km of coastline, with beaches of different kinds. For example, there are stretches with facilities and kiosks, more secluded coves, beaches with natural pools at low tide, and areas of mangrove and restinga (coastal scrub). In this way, the combination of historical heritage and nature lends itself to cultural and ecological itineraries.

Tourism and cuisine

Visitors will find guesthouses, restaurants and kiosks serving traditional Bahian cuisine, especially fish and seafood dishes, as well as the famous acarajé. Because the island is close to Salvador, it is easy to make either a day trip or a longer stay.

Practical tips

• Before your visit, check the opening hours and access conditions of churches, forts and cultural spaces.
• In addition, respect conservation areas such as mangroves, reefs and trails, and do not collect shells or corals.
• If possible, hire local guides to learn about the stories, figures and details of the heritage.
• Finally, plan your transportation and crossing times according to the season and tourist traffic.