Why visit Vera Cruz
Townapedia lists 50 museums and landmarks, 41 parks and trails, 226 places to eat, 70 places to stay and 17 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Farol da Barra, Porto da Barra Beach, Museu Náutico da Bahia and Museu Carlos Costa Pinto.
Weather in Vera Cruz
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Vera Cruz
Vera Cruz (Bahia) is a municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil. It occupies 87% of the island of Itaparica; the remainder belongs to the municipality of Itaparica. The municipality of Vera Cruz has a population of is 43,716 (2020 estimate) and covers an area of 297.537 square kilometres (114.880 mi2).
From the Wikipedia article Vera Cruz, Bahia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do17
Teatro São João
Cinema and theater · 10.4 km
Former theatre in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Barra Lighthouse
Lighthouse · 9.9 km
R. do Gavaza, 24 - Barra, Salvador
5 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks50
Museu Náutico da Bahia
Museum · 9.9 km
Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra - Largo do Farol da Barra, s/n - Barra, Salvador, Salvador
Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
Museu de Arte da Bahia
Museum · 9.7 km
2340 Avenida Sete de Setembro, Salvador
Tu-Su 10:00-18:00
Afro-Brazilian Museum
Museum · 10.8 km
Cultural museum in Salvador, Bahia
Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado
Museum · 10.9 km
Archive in Salvador, Bahia
Museum of Modern Art of Bahia
Museum · 9.8 km
Brazilian museum in Salvador, Bahia
Relógio de São Pedro
Monument and historic site · 10.5 km
20th-century monument in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
São Marcelo Fort
Museum · 9.9 km
Well listed by the Institute of Artistic and Cultural Heritage of Bahia in the city of Salvador, Bahia
38 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds41
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29 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes226
Chez Bernard
Restaurant · French · 9.9 km
11 Rua da Gamboa de Cima
Mo 19:00-22:00; Tu-Fr 12:00-15:00,19:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su...
Café Bola - Cafes Espécias
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 9.5 km
3564 Avenida Sete de Setembro
Tu-Fr 09:00-12:00, 15:00-19:00; Su 09:00-13:00; Mo 15:00-19:00; Sa...
Bar Âncora do Marujo
Bar and pub · 10.2 km
809 Avenida Carlos Gomes, Salvador
Todos os dias - 21h as 03h
Casa Rabello
Cafe · Regional · 10.3 km
18 Rua da Paz
08:00-21:00
La Bouche Creperia
Restaurant · 10.1 km
26 Rua Dias D'Avilla, Salvador
terça a quinta - 12h as 23:30h / sexta - 18h as 23:30 / sabado -...
Caranguejo do Farol
Restaurant · Regional · 10.1 km
Avenida Oceânica, Salvador
Mo-Su 12:00-01:00
Casa Castanho - Barra
Cafe · Breakfast, Coffee Shop · 9.6 km
48 Avenida Princesa Isabel
Mo-Su 08:00-15:00
214 more on the map.
History
The island of Itaparica was home to a large population of Tupinambá peoples prior to the arrival of the Portugues. Diogo Álvaro Corrêa (c. 1475-1557), a Portuguese navigator also known as Caramuru, arrived on Itaparica in 1510. He met Catarina Paraguaçu (died 1586), daughter of the Tupinambá chief Taparica, and married her. Catarina travelled with Caramuru to France in 1526, was baptized in 1528, and is noted for her Marian visions.
Portuguese settlements in Vera Cruz were established soon after the arrival of Tomé de Sousa, Brazil's first governor-general, in 1549. The Jesuits founded a small settlement in present-day Baiacu in 1560. It was called the Vila do Senhor da Vera Cruz, and featured Brazil's first hydraulic works, a dam to provide drinking water. The ruins of the Jesuit church remain on the site. Sugarcane, wheat, and cattle were introduced to the area in the same period. The wealth of the island led to attacks by English corsairs by 1597. It was invaded by the Dutch between the years 1600 and 1647.
The Island of Itaparica was administered as part of Salvador until 1833. It was elevated to city status in 1962, and subsequently divided into two municipalities: Vera Cruz and Itaparica.
From the History section of Vera Cruz, Bahia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay70
Churches and places of worship28
Espaço Novo Tempo Barra
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 10.0 km
492 Avenida Princesa Isabel, Salvador
Igreja Batista Sião
Church · Baptist · 10.1 km
68 Rua Forte de São Pedro, Salvador
Igreja Nossa Senhora das Mercês
Church · Catholic · 10.1 km
1105 Avenida Sete de Setembro, Salvador
Igreja Presbiteriana Memorial da Barra
Church · Presbyterian · 10.2 km
108 Rua Recife, salvador
Shopping53
Centro Comercial do Canela
Shopping center · 10.3 km
84 Rua Padre Feijó, Salvador
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries39
Palácio Da Reitoria | Sede Oficial | Universidade Federal Da Bahia | UFBA ꎺ
School · 10.2 km
s/n Rua Augusto Viana, Salvador
Biblioteca Universitária de Saúde Professor Álvaro Rubim de Pinho
Library · 10.2 km
139-313 Rua Basílio da Gama
Escola De Nutrição | EN | UFBA ꎺ
School · 10.1 km
200 Rua Basílio da Gama, Salvador
Pró-Reitoria De Ensino Da Graduação | PROGRAD | UFBA ꎺ
School · 10.1 km
Rua Padre Feijó, Salvador
Healthcare59
Hospital Universitário Prof. Edgard Santos, M.D. | Serviço Médico Universitário Prof. Rubens Brasil, M.D. | HUPES | EBSERH | UFBA ꎺ | SUS
Clinic and pharmacy · 10.3 km
s/n Rua Augusto Viana, Salvador
Drogaria São Paulo
Clinic and pharmacy · 10.2 km
474 Avenida Araújo Pinho, Salvador
Drogaria São Paulo
Clinic and pharmacy · 10.2 km
157 Rua João das Botas, Salvador
Centro de Medicina Hiperbárica do Nordeste
Clinic and pharmacy · 10.2 km
258 Rua João das Botas, Salvador
Map of Vera Cruz
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport (SSA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 31 km away.
- Itaparica 11 km northwest, about 11 min by car
- Salvador 13 km east, about 13 min by car
- Salinas da Margarida 20 km northwest, about 20 min by car
- Madre de Deus 24 km north, about 24 min by car
- Simões Filho 30 km northeast, about 30 min by car
- Lauro de Freitas 31 km east, about 31 min by car
- Muritiba 56 km northwest, about 56 min by car
- São Félix 56 km northwest, about 56 min by car
- Pojuca 66 km northeast, about 1 h by car
- Cairu 75 km southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Cacha Pregos Beach 14fev09, Ahmiguel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0804, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0805, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0806, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0807, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0808, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0809, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0810, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0882, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0881, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0885, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0886, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0880, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0879, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0813, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0812, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0811, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0878, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0815, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0814, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0870, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0869, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0852, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0847, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0854, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0849, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia Rear View 2018-0841, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0843, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0844, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0853, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0848, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0851, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0846, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0839, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0868, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0840, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0837, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Santo Antônio dos Velasques Vera Cruz Bahia 2018-0838, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Praia do Porto da Barra 4, by Luan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Teatro Vila Velha-12159, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Teatro São João Salvador Bahia, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Salvador, museo afro-brasileiro, sala 02, Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Salvador-CCBY-2, joquerollo [2], CC BY 2.0
- Casa dos Sete Candeeiros Salvador 2018-1323, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palacete das Artes Rodin Bahia, Agecom Bahia from Bahia/Brasil, CC BY 2.0
- Relógio de São Pedro, Salvador, BA; 2021-07-06, Jcornelius, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Vista aérea do Forte de São Marcelo, Portal da Copa/ME (victoria.camara), CC BY 3.0 br
- Salvador, chiesa di nossa senhora da conceiçao da praia, ext. 01, Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Catedral Basílica de Salvador Facade 2019-9898, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capela de Nossa Senhora da Escada Salvador 2018-0322, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Igreja de São Lourenço Itaparica South Elevation 2018-0132, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pilar Salvador 2018-0194, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Фарол да барра, Leon petrosyan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museu de Arte da Bahia, Agecom Bahia from Bahia/Brasil, CC BY 2.0
- Espaço expositivo do MAM - Bahia - 01, Ajmcbarreto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Praça Campo Grande, Salvador, March 2014 (13488350523), Bryn Pinzgauer, CC BY 2.0
- Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Vitória Salvador Facade 2018-0641, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Casa de Castro Alves - Solar Sodré-3459, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Alexius Salvador Museu Carlos Costa Pinto 7 de Setembro, Cramunhao, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Panorama do Passeio Público de Salvador, by Luan, CC BY-SA 3.0 br
- Frente do Teatro Castro Alves, em 26 de julho de 2019, by Luan, CC BY-SA 3.0 br
- Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus dos Aflitos 2018-0184, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Museu Náutico da Bahia - Salvador BA (52113285390), Marinha do Brasil, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel da Bahia-12808 05, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Foyer da SaladeArte Cinema do Museu, Ajmcbarreto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Teatro ICBA Salvador - 16, Ajmcbarreto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Quartel do Comando Geral Polícia Militar da Bahia 2018-0198, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pracaaclamacao, Andrevruas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Centro de Referência Estadual para Pessoas com Transtorno do Espectro Autista, Largo do Campo Grande, Salvador, julho de 2025 (1), Fronteira, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fotos no Colégio estadual Ypiranga Salvador,BA 05, Santoscherlock, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Saladearte Cinemam - 13, Ajmcbarreto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fachada da igreja no Largo da Vitória, Ferik80, CC BY-SA 4.0
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