Farol da Barra, Maritime lighthouse at Barra district in Salvador, Brazil
Farol da Barra is a 22-meter lighthouse in the Barra district of Salvador, Brazil, standing at the entrance to the Bay of All Saints. Its white and red light signal alternates regularly and reaches vessels up to 38 nautical miles away.
The tower was built in 1839 inside the Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra and replaced the original lighthouse from 1698. That earlier structure is considered the first recorded lighthouse on the American continent.
The Nautical Museum inside displays objects from shipwrecks and model vessels that document the maritime heritage of the Brazilian coast. Visitors walk through three centuries of navigation and trade while understanding how sailors once crossed these waters.
The lighthouse and museum open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9 AM and 6 PM for visitors. Admission prices differ for locals and international guests.
A shipwreck of the galleon Santíssimo Sacramento in 1668 at this exact spot led to the construction of the first signal tower. That tragic event made clear that sailors urgently needed guidance when entering the bay.
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