Monumento a Cidade do Salvador (Monument to the City of Salvador), Salvador

One of Salvador’s iconic landmarks, the "Monument to the City of Salvador" (or "Fountain of the Market Ramp" if you prefer its local nickname), stands proudly where the original Modelo Market once lived and breathed. Designed by sculptor Mário Cravo Júnior, this striking piece was unveiled in 1970, doubling as both a sculpture and a fountain.

With its bold, abstract design, the structure quickly sparked interpretations. The most popular? It’s said to resemble the sails of "saveiros" (traditional boats) that used to dock at the market ramp. Made from fiberglass-reinforced resin (an experimental material at the time), it remained unchanged-despite plans for a reinforced-concrete upgrade-until it was tragically consumed by fire in 2018, just months after the artist's passing.

But wait, there’s a happy ending! In 2023, the monument was lovingly reinaugurated, bringing it back to life in all its original glory. Art, it seems, knows how to make a dramatic comeback!