Praça Castro Alves, Public square in Salvador, Brazil

Praça Castro Alves is a public square in the center of Salvador, at the end of Sete de Setembro Avenue and the start of Chile Street. It sits on a promontory that separates the Upper and Lower City, offering a view over part of All Saints' Bay.

In 1808, the square was the site where the Portuguese prince Dom João and his court were received by the City Council. Later, it was home to the São João Theater, which burned down in 1923, and the poet's statue was placed on its column that same year.

The square is named after the poet Castro Alves, and his statue shows him in a speaking pose, a hat in his left hand and his right arm extended. Locals often gather here for concerts and celebrations, making it a meeting point in the city.

The square is easy to reach on foot from nearby streets and serves as a useful landmark when exploring the historic center. Keep in mind that the area can get crowded during events, so plan your visit accordingly.

The statue of Castro Alves was made by Italian sculptor Pasquale de Chirico and cast in São Paulo before being brought to Bahia in 1922. It shows the poet with his head uncovered and eyes looking into the distance, a detail that often goes unnoticed.