History and sights of Avenida Contorno in Salvador BA

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Avenida Contorno in Salvador (also known as Avenida Lafayette Coutinho) is one of the most iconic stretches of the city’s waterfront, linking Cidade Alta to Cidade Baixa and running alongside the Bay of Todos-os-Santos.In this guide, you’ll find a historical overview and the main tourist attractions along the avenue.

A brief history of Avenida Contorno in Salvador

Avenida Contorno in Salvador was conceived in the late 1950s and opened in the early 1960s, based on a design by the architect Diógenes Rebouças. The project reorganised the waterfront, preserving and at the same time transforming historic areas such as Solar do Unhão and Gamboa.

Foto da avenida Contorno de 1958, Salvador BA — Photograph of Contorno Avenue from 1958, Salvador, Bahia

Foto antiga da avenida Contorno em Salvador BA — Old photograph of Contorno Avenue in Salvador, Bahia

Avenida Contorno em Salvador BA, a esquerda o Solar do Unhão e a Capela Nossa Senhora da Conceição. — Contorno Avenue in Salvador, Bahia; on the left are the Solar do Unhão and the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

4 tourist attractions on Contorno Avenue in Salvador

Avenida Contorno em Salvador BA03:20

Comunidade do Solar do Unhão em Salvador BA

Comunidade do Solar do Unhão em Salvador25:49

Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia - MAM02:55

Praia do MAM em Salvador BA01:55

1. Praia da Preguiça

A small cove steeped in history, which today serves as a venue for sports (footvolley, canoeing, diving) and local events, including the pre-Carnival parade ‘Banho de Mar à Fantasia’.

Praia da Preguiça em Salvador — Praia da Preguiça in Salvador

2. MAM Beach

MAM Beach combines art and nature: it lies next to the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia and features sculptures and artworks along the path leading to the sand. The MAM manages access and the cultural programme at the site.

Praia do MAM em Salvador — MAM Beach in Salvador

3. Solar do Unhão Community

The area around Solar do Unhão is a cultural hub featuring graffiti, art studios and the Salvador Street Art Museum (MUSAS). An atmosphere of creative resistance and a prime vantage point overlooking the bay.

4. House and Chapel of Quinta do Unhão

A colonial architectural complex comprising a manor house, chapel, aqueduct, fountain and storehouses — an important piece of historical heritage preserved alongside the waterfront.

François René Moreaux - Solar do Unhão com a Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia, Salvador da Bahia — François René Moreaux – Unhão Manor House with the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia, Salvador, Bahia

Quick tips for visiting Avenida Contorno in Salvador

Visit the MAM and enjoy the sunset along the waterfront.
Check the MAM’s opening times and exhibitions before you go.
Respect the local communities and support the region’s creative economy.
If you’re visiting during Carnival, check the schedule for local street parades.

Written by Willy Sievert

Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →

Published on 30/03/2023 · Updated on 18/06/2026