Pi Lu Leiu Liu

　　    Anyone who hasn’t visited “Pi Lu Leiu Liu” and the old city center has never truly been to Salvador, as it is the city’s premier tourist attraction, located in the heart of the historic center and listed as a “Humanity Cultural Heritage” site by UNESCO. In the past, Pi Lu Leiu Liu was actually a wooden post erected in public squares where wrongdoers—often enslaved Black people—were tied and subjected to brutal punishment. Both the Jesus Holy Land and the current Domo Sosa and Castro Alves squares once had a “Pi Lu Leiu Liu,” and later parts of central Salvador were named after it. In fact, initially, the wealthiest families in Salvador resided in this area. So the grand mansions visitors see in Pi Lu Leiu Liu were built in the 17th century by prominent landowners to showcase their social status.

　　    Around 800 colonial-era houses have been restored, serving as the starting point for the area’s economic, social, and cultural revival. As a result, today’s Pi Lu Leiu Liu has become a symbol of Salvador, featuring bars, restaurants, theaters, museums, churches, and historic buildings. It also serves as an open-air stage for Olodum, Bahia’s most traditional and distinctive African drumming ensemble.

　　 Brasília, Brazil