The Art Deco tower
From 1930.
fernando_dallacqua [2] — CC BY 2.0 · Thaismay — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Luiz Pantoja from São Paulo — CC BY 2.0 · EvertonCostaFoto — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Elevador Lacerda is a public lift 72 metres high that links Salvador's Upper City with the Lower City over the cliff between them. It was built between 1869 and 1873 and named after Antônio de Lacerda, head of Bahia's Commercial Association; it ran on water power, then electricity from 1906, and its towers were rebuilt in 1930 in the Art Deco style it is known for today. It has two towers, one cut into the rock at the Ladeira da Montanha and the visible one dropping to the Lower City, with four cabins making the trip in about half a minute. It was listed as national heritage in 2006 and reopened in February 2025 after a renovation of about ten months that replaced all four cabins. The square at the top has a wide view over the Bay of All Saints, the Mercado Modelo and the São Marcelo fort in the water. It is the quickest way between Pelourinho and the market, but watch for pickpockets in the crowds at both entrances.
From 1930.
From the upper square.
Out in the water.
Praça Tomé de Sousa, between the Upper and Lower City
Yes. It reopened in February 2025 after a renovation that replaced its four cabins, and the fare is R$1.
