Historic Centre of São Luís, Colonial Portuguese heritage site in São Luís, Brazil

The Historic Centre of São Luís is a 220-hectare old town whose colonial buildings are clad in white and blue azulejo tiles, used to waterproof earthen walls in the hot, humid climate. Facades carry arched doorways with blue lattice gates, balconies on white stone brackets, and tall windows with wooden railings. Houses follow L or U plans with large roofs and shutters; sobrados reach four floors, with shops at street level.

French settlers founded the city in 1612 before it came under Dutch rule and was later reshaped by Portuguese colonists following a plan from 1615. The Portuguese period left a lasting mark on the townscape, leading to the construction of most buildings visible today and the characteristic street layouts.

The city was named São Luís in 1612 by the French founder Daniel de La Touche, in honour of King Louis XIII of France. In the Praia Grande quarter, vehicle traffic is now banned and the paving matches that of the imperial period, following the Reviver Project of 1987-1990.

The center is best explored on foot, as most sites of interest, churches, museums, and restaurants sit within a connected walking zone. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the streets are paved with cobblestones and feature several hills and slopes, especially in the older sections.

The azulejos covering the facades are not just decoration: they waterproof walls built of taipa (rammed earth), a solution to the hot, humid climate. The same concern shaped the L- or U-shaped floor plans, large roofs and shutters. In 1987-1990 the Reviver Project restored about 200 casarões in the Praia Grande quarter, and vehicles are now banned there.