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The story of the Discovery Coast begins on 22 April 1500, when Pedro Álvares Cabral ‘s squadron spotted a rounded elevation, Mount Pascoal, located to the south of Bahia.
In search of a safe place to dock, the thirteen ships sailed along the coast to the north and, at dusk on 24 April, anchored in a wide, deep-water cove that would later be called Cabrália Bay, located in the present-day town of Santa Cruz Cabrália.
Pintor brasileiro (1865-1959)
On his departure on 2 May, Cabral left two convicts with the mission of learning the language and customs of the Tupiniquin Indians, as well as two grunts who deserted to venture into the lush tropical forests. It was the beginning of the occupation of the new lands by white men.
View the map Costa do Descobrimento
View the map of Porto Seguro beaches
Watch the videos about the Discovery of Brazil
A viagem de Pedro Alvares Cabral
Descobrimento do Brasil em 22 de abril de 1500
Capitanias Hereditárias08:24
Descobrimento do Brasil - Aula09:54
Parque Nacional Histórico Monte Pascoal02:16
In 1532, when the Brazilian coastline was already constantly being plundered by corsairs in search of brazilwood, and news was circulating about the discovery of precious metals in Spanish America, Portugal decided to promote the occupation of the territory through the system of hereditary captaincies.
The Captaincy of Porto Seguro, whose domains stretched from the right bank of the Jequitinhonha River to the left bank of the Doce River, was granted to Pero Campos de Tourinho, a Portuguese nobleman from Viana do Castelo.
In 1534, after selling everything he owned, Pero Campos de Tourinho set sail for Brazil in two caravels and two ships, bringing his wife, his sons Fernão and André, relatives and settlers, totalling 600 people.
Still in 1534, he ordered the foundation of the town of Nossa Senhora da Pena, where the upper town of Porto Seguro is today, and the transfer of the village of Santa Cruz to a hill near the mouth of the João de Tiba river, in the present-day municipality of Santa Cruz Cabrália.
With the creation of the captaincy, the economy diversified. The town became a base from which expeditions to the interior of the country were organised in search of precious stones and metals. Sugar mills were also set up in the region.
However, the town continued to be attacked by the Aimorés, a situation common to most captaincies. The Portuguese settlers were often killed, their houses destroyed and their crops burnt down.
The failure of the captaincies led Portugal to install a governor-general in Salvador in 1549.
The first governor-general, Tomé de Souza, brought with him troops, ships prepared to defend the coast and, above all, the Jesuits to promote the catechesis of the indigenous people.
This religious order was crucial to the colonisation of the Porto Seguro region.
The Jesuits founded villages such as São João dos Índios, now Trancoso, and Ajuda, attracting Indians willing to be catechised in exchange for protection against slavery. In addition to the villages, they also built residences such as that of the Saviour, in the town of Nossa Senhora da Pena.
The Captaincy of Porto Seguro remained practically undeveloped until the middle of the 18th century.
In 1760, the Marquis of Pombal implemented a new colonial policy, expelling the Jesuits and incorporating the captaincy into the Portuguese Crown.
This measure somewhat improved the poverty that prevailed in the region.
In the 19th century, the town survived on fishing, boat building, logging and agriculture.
In 1954, construction began on the BR-101, the Rio-Bahia motorway. Although the motorway brought some development to the region, it also facilitated the devastation of much of the forest that still existed. With the completion of the BR-101 in 1972, Porto Seguro began a new period in its history, becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Brazil.
In addition to the historical monuments, churches and houses, the landscape that witnessed the arrival of Cabral’s fleet evokes history. In 1976, the entire municipality of Porto Seguro was listed as a National Historic Site, consolidating its historical and cultural value for the country.
History of the Discovery Coast in Bahia – History of Brazil
