The blue house
Facing the square.
Wellington Da Costa Gomez — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Boaventuravinicius — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Milena Cintra — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mtvdanilo — CC BY 4.0 · Mtvdanilo — CC BY 4.0
In the blue house overlooking the Pelourinho square stands the Jorge Amado House Foundation, devoted to Brazil's best-known 20th-century novelist, author of «Gabriela» and «Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands», who made Bahia and Salvador the stage of his books. The non-profit foundation runs a research centre holding the papers of Amado and his wife, the writer Zélia Gattai, and documents on Bahian literature. The idea took shape in 1982, when Amado turned seventy and marked fifty years of writing; institutions in Brazil and abroad pressed him to give away his archive, but his wife refused, saying his papers belonged to the people of Bahia and should stay there, and the plan came true with help from the writer Myriam Fraga. The foundation also aims to be a forum on Bahian culture and on overcoming racial and class discrimination. Its rooms show covers of his novels in languages from around the world, photographs and personal belongings, and it hosts courses, talks and book launches. It was renovated in 2026, taking in the house next door. Tickets are about R$20 and R$10 reduced; check opening times after the renovation.
Facing the square.
In world languages.
Photos and papers.
Largo do Pelourinho, Upper City, Salvador
Pelourinho (Historic Centre of Salvador)Pelourinho is the historic centre of Salvador, Brazil's first capital from 1549 3 minutes walk
Elevador LacerdaThe Elevador Lacerda is a public lift 72 metres high that links Salvador's Upper7 minutes walk4.4
Mercado ModeloMercado Modelo is Salvador's best-known handicraft market, in the Lower City at 8 minutes walk4.3
Arena Fonte NovaArena Fonte Nova is a football stadium of about 48,000 seats, built on the site 11 minutes walk4.5
Forte de São MarceloForte de São Marcelo, known locally as the «Sea Fort», stands on a reef bank abo13 minutes walk4.5In the blue house overlooking the Pelourinho square in Salvador's Upper City.