Valença

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Introducing Valença

Valença is a colonial fishing town on the banks of the Rio Una, historically the site of Portuguese struggles with both indigenous tribes and the Dutch. For most it is simply the gateway to Morro de São Paulo, but it has its own little-known secrets. Local shipbuilders maintain 15th-century techniques to such a degree that the town was chosen to produce a replica of the Spanish galleon La Niña for the American epic film 1492 (1992) about Christopher Columbus’s journey.

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To see the building of saveiro fishing boats in action, wander to the far end of the port where the smell of sap and sawdust, old fish and sea salt mingles with the wonderful odor of nutmeg drying in the sun. For a good walk and a beautiful view, follow the river’s left bank upstream toward the Igreja NS de Amparo (1757) on the hill.

Last updated: Apr 24, 2009

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. amobr82 avatar
    RE: Two week Brazil itinerary; Floripa vs Morro do Sao Paulo vs Manaus

    by amobr82 22 July 2011

    That looks a lot more doable. ---- And you get to be in Salvador for the Tuesday bencao you wanted to go to, although it seems the city…
  2. amobr82 avatar
    RE: Transport and accommodation recs with toddler and baby (rio, iguazu,

    by amobr82 17 June 2011

    There are places around Salvador that fill the "quiet beach town definition" (which IMO neither Paraty nor Buzios does), but the problem…
  3. amobr82 avatar
    RE: quiet beach near Rio or Salvador

    by amobr82 29 May 2011

    The typical beach locations from Rio are Buzios or Paraty/Ilha Grande (3-4 hours by bus). I have often been in Rio in December when it…

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