City Museum of Salvador, Municipal museum in Pelourinho district, Salvador, Brazil.
The City Museum of Salvador occupies a colonial-era building in the heart of Pelourinho and displays objects documenting different phases of the city's development. The collections range from artifacts of the colonial period through contemporary works, offering insight into the various periods that shaped this place.
The institution was established in 1973 as a cultural center preserving collections that document Salvador's transformation from the colonial period to modern times. Its creation came during an era when Brazil began to systematically safeguard its cultural heritage through such archives.
The exhibits display Candomble ceremonial garments, traditional cloth dolls from the colonial period, and works by Bahian artists including Mendonca Filho and Caribe. These pieces show the spiritual practices and artistic traditions that shaped local life.
The museum is located at Largo do Pelourinho and operates on weekday afternoons, though specific hours should be checked in advance. The neighborhood is central and easily walkable, making it natural to combine a visit with exploring the surrounding historic quarter.
The collection includes personal objects of poet Castro Alves, who advocated against slavery in Brazil during the 1800s. These belongings connect the history of antislavery activism to the daily life and thought of that era.
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