Vitoria, Port city in Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Vitoria is a port city in Espírito Santo, Brazil, that spreads over one main island and 34 smaller islands connected by bridges. The capital sits on the Atlantic coast with beaches, harbor facilities, and residential neighborhoods distributed across its island territory.
Portuguese colonists moved the settlement from Vila Velha to its current island location in 1551 after repeated attacks made the original site unsafe. Over the following centuries, landfill projects gradually altered the geography and reduced the original count of 50 islands to today's 35.
The city takes its name from Nossa Senhora da Vitória, an apparition of the Virgin Mary believed to have aided Portuguese settlers during an attack. This religious connection remains visible in churches dotting the coastline and in local devotion practiced by residents along the waterfront.
The bridges connecting the islands make it easy to move between neighborhoods, and many coastal areas can be explored on foot. Visitors planning to see different parts of the city should consider ferry connections and boat routes that serve several points along the harbor.
The city has undergone major geographic transformation through landfill projects that not only reduced the number of islands but also created new coastlines. These artificially expanded areas now host many residential and commercial districts that differ noticeably from the older parts of town.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
