The narrow streets of the Historic Center are home to colonial mansions with facades adorned with Portuguese, French and German tiles, each one telling a story spanning more than 400 years. In this architectural complex, there are many possible itineraries that integrate the visiting experience that São Luís offers its visitors, in a region where activities that are fundamental to the functioning of the city can be seen within the thousands of properties spread across the region.
The Historic Center of São Luís has more than five thousand historic buildings, with a large part of the tourist area concentrated in the neighborhoods of Praia Grande, Desterro, Portinho and the area of Praça Deodoro and Praça Gonçalves Dias. much of it made up of residences where the capital’s wealthiest families lived in the first centuries of the city’s founding. This set of centuries-old buildings has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1997 as a World Heritage Site and has been listed since 1955 by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN).
Museum of Gastronomy Maranhense, Praça do Poetas, Palácio La Ravardière, Palácio dos Leões, Igreja da Sé, Praça Gonçalves Dias, Mirante da Cidade, Mercado das Tulhas, Praça João Lisboa, Igreja do Carmo, Igreja do Desterro, Cafua das Mercês, House da Fésta, Solar Maria Firmina dos Reis, Praça do Pantheon, Fonte do Ribeirão, Fonte das Pedras, Rua do Giz Staircase, Rua Portugal, Praça dos Pescadores, Museum of Sacred Art, Palácio Cristo Rei, Igreja dos Remédios, Igreja de Santo Antônio, Casa do Maranhão, Casa de Nhozinho, Teatro João do Vale, Teatro Arthur Azevedo, Museum of Visual Arts, Museum of Reggae, Convento das Mercês, Benedito Leite Library, Beira Mar Railway Complex, Rua da Palma, Beco Catarina Mina, Beco da Pacotilha, Praça Deodoro, Rua Grande, Casarão da Indústria, are some of the city’s historical points available for tourists to visit.
Praia Grande: a starting point for the experience in the São Luís destination
Imagine yourself walking along cobblestone streets, surrounded by colonial mansions that tell stories of centuries past. Welcome to the Praia Grande neighborhood, the heart of the Historic Center of São Luís. This welcoming neighborhood is a treasure waiting to be explored by travelers in search of history, gastronomy and culture.
The region has squares that offer a relaxing environment for appreciating heritage, such as Praça da Faustina, Praça Valdelino Cécio and Praça Nauro Machado. At Praça dos Catraeiros it is possible to sit and admire the spectacle of the sunset just a few meters from the sea. There, there is also the Mercado das Tulhas, traditionally known for offering a variety of local products, including Maranhão delicacies and where it is possible to buy souvenirs and taste the flavors of Ludovicense cuisine.
And just like in São Luís, every corner holds a surprise, in Praia Grande three iconic spots welcome many visitors: Beco Catarina Mina, Escadaria da Rua do Giz and Rua Portugal. At night, the region changes part of its dynamics, gains lights and the movement of people increases considerably, especially on Fridays, when the nightlife vibrates and dozens of bars and pubs spread across the region offer music for all tastes and styles. .
In addition, the region is home to the City Council, museums, art galleries, craft stores and cultural houses for tourists to visit. With useful services such as banks, one of the city’s main public transport terminals (Terminal da Praia Grande), taxi ranks, cafes, ice cream shops, bars and restaurants.
And just like in São Luís, every corner holds a surprise, in Praia Grande three iconic spots welcome many visitors: Beco Catarina Mina, Escadaria da Rua do Giz and Rua Portugal. At night, the region changes part of its dynamics, gains lights and the movement of people increases considerably, especially on Fridays, when the nightlife vibrates and dozens of bars and pubs spread across the region offer music for all tastes and styles. .
When visiting São Luís, don’t miss the chance to visit the city’s Historic Center, an open-air museum like no other that offers experiences that will forever remain in your memory.
