Learn about the courageous sailors who braved the Atlantic Ocean and defeated the odds to reach the northeastern coastline of Brazil.
The Discovery of Brazil Memorial is a fascinating site that pays tribute to the arrival of Portuguese settlers to the region. With a botanical garden, exhibitions and the replica of the ship that brought Europeans here, the memorial offers a comprehensive insight into Porto Seguro’s role in Brazilian history. Learn about the struggles overcome by the sailors who navigated to this foreign land.
Wander along the Discovery Lane, which is decorated by sculptures and informative plaques. Note that a very small percentage of the large fleet of ships completed the journey, such were the arduous conditions on the seas between Portugal and Brazil. Many sailors died from scurvy due to a lack of vitamin C during the long voyage. Explore a temporary exhibit on a theme relating to the discovery. Inspect the portraits of important sailors and explorers.
Capture photos of the intriguing displays in this outdoor museum complex. Explore the picturesque botanical gardens full of tropical vegetation from the region beside the memorial.
Gaze up at the large replica of the Nau Capitânia ship that was sailed by Pedro Álvares Cabral on his voyage to Brazil. Located at the end of the museum’s walkway, it is scaled to the size of the initial boat and contains cannons, sandbags and other sailing equipment. Descend the wooden spiral staircase for a glimpse of the boat’s interior.
Speak with the local guides, who are mostly descendants of the indigenous Pataxó people, for context behind the colonization of the country or inspect the memorial and the ship replica at your own pace.
Pay a small fee to access the ship and other parts of the memorial. It opens daily from early morning until late afternoon with a short break at noon.
Walk northeast for 25 minutes along the coast from the center of Porto Seguro to reach the Discovery of Brazil Memorial. It overlooks the city’s main beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The small Porto Seguro Airport is just to the southwest of the site, beside the Buranhém River.
