Vila Velha

Vila Velha brings together religious traditions, outdoor art and beach experiences. Convento da Penha is considered the most important tourist, religious and historical landmark in the state of Espírito Santo; at the same time, the history of Festa da Penha dates back to 1570. You can focus your trip on cultural attractions or walks along Praia de Itapoã or Praia de Itaparica.

Culture and religious traditions

Convento da Penha represents Vila Velha's tourist, religious and historical significance in the state. Festa da Penha is also an important part of the religious tradition: it has been held since 1570 and is considered the largest religious celebration in Espírito Santo and Brazil's third-largest Marian festival. This makes the celebration a distinctive cultural feature to consider when planning your trip.

Parque Cultural Casa do Governador offers a different cultural experience. Its outdoor art collection comprises 33 works: 23 permanent and 10 temporary. The park is open to the public free of charge from Tuesday to Sunday. If you would like to include outdoor art in your trip, you can make this a dedicated stop on your itinerary.

Igreja do Rosário is another religious and historical landmark, considered one of the oldest churches in Brazil still in operation. In Barra do Jucu, Congo is associated with Vila Velha's strong folkloric traditions. Together, these attractions reveal different facets of cultural life: religious history, a living tradition and art in public spaces.

Beaches, walks and active pursuits

Praia de Itapoã is often used for walks, sports and family leisure. This makes it a good choice for travelers who want to spend time outdoors. At Praia de Itaparica, a broad, urbanized waterfront promenade and lively nightlife shape the experience. When planning your trip, you can weigh up walks and sports against a waterfront promenade with lively nightlife.

For hiking, adventure sports and scenic views, Morro do Moreno is one of the most popular destinations. It adds an active option to the beach and cultural attractions. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider which experiences you want to shape your stay: walks and sports at Praia de Itapoã, the promenade and nightlife at Praia de Itaparica, or hiking and scenery at Morro do Moreno.

Getting there and choosing a base

Vila Velha is reached primarily via the BR-101 and state highways. From southern Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, the route is via the BR-101. From the Minas Gerais region, you can travel via the BR-262 to Vitória and then continue over the bridges connecting the two cities. For your travel planning, the direction you are coming from is therefore a useful point of reference. Choose your stay based on the experiences you want to prioritize, and also take into account the direction from which you will be arriving.

Discover more places

For more travel ideas, see the pages for Santa Teresa, Rio Bananal, Itaipava, Ibiraçu, Café, Cachoeiro De Itapemirim, Ibatiba and Iúna.

For the broader travel overview: Espírito Santo.