Praca Castro Alves (Castro Alves Square), Salvador

Back in the 16th century, this spot was the Saint Benedict Gate of the fortress that protected Salvador’s core. By the early 19th century, it was still called Portas de São Bento, until the grand construction of São João Theatre in 1812, which led to its renaming as Saint Benedict Square, and later, Theatre Square. Home to the largest entertainment venue in the country, it was already a buzzing hotspot during Carnival.

In 1881, the semicircular square was rebranded Poet’s Square (“Praça do Poeta”), ten years after Bahia’s famous Castro Alves’ death; the monument to the Romantic poet was finally unveiled in 1923, having been commissioned from Italian sculptor Pasquale de Chirico (1873-1943).

The bronze statue reaches 2.9 meters tall, with the entire monument towering at 11 meters. At the front, there’s a sculpture of a couple of enslaved people, representing the poet's fight against slavery (at one point, he even won the epithet of “The Poet of the Slaves”).

Castro Alves (1847-1871) may have had a short life, but it was packed with intensity. Today, his square stands as a symbol of Salvador. In 1971, his remains were transferred to a crypt at the base of the monument, but he continues to stare out at the Bay of All Saints from the pedestal- just like his themes of human rights continue to resonate with contemporary readers.