World Heritage Identification Number: 821
World Heritage since: 1997
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇧🇷 Brazil
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
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The Historic Centre of São Luís: A Unique Iberian Colonial Town in Brazil
The Historic Centre of São Luís, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, offers a captivating glimpse into the rich history and cultural heritage of Brazil. Located on Upaon-açu Island, in the Baía de São Marcos, the city serves as the capital and largest urban center of the state of Maranhão. With a population of over one million inhabitants, it boasts the second-largest maritime extension among Brazilian states, spanning an impressive 640 kilometers.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The late 17th-century core of this historic town, founded by the French and occupied by the Dutch before coming under Portuguese rule, has preserved the original rectangular street plan in its entirety. Thanks to a period of economic stagnation in the early 20th century, an exceptional number of fine historic buildings have survived, making this an outstanding example of an Iberian colonial town.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
The Committee decided to inscribe this property on the basis of criteria (iii), (iv) and (v), considering that the Historic Centre of São Luis do Maranhão is an outstanding example of a Portuguese colonial town that adapted successfully to the climatic conditions in equatorial South America and which has preserved its urban fabric, harmoniously integrated with its natural setting, to an exceptional degree.
Encyclopedia Record: São Luís, Maranhão
São Luís is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The city is located on Upaon-açu Island or Ilha de São Luís, in the Baía de São Marcos, an extension of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the estuary of Pindaré, Mearim, Itapecuru and other rivers. Its coordinates are 2.53° south, 44.30° west. São Luís has the second largest maritime extension within Brazilian states. Its maritime extension is 640 km. The city proper has a population of some 1,088,057 people. The metropolitan area totals 1,536,017, ranked as the 15th largest in Brazil.Additional Site Details
Area: 66.65 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
(v) — Outstanding example of traditional human settlement
Coordinates: -2.530054 , -44.303369
