Pestana Convento do Carmo

Salvador de Bahia

Salvador de Bahia, the cultural birthplace of Brazil, is a city of mixed races. As the capital of the country from 1549 to 1763, it was a meeting point for European, African and Amerindian cultures as well as the first slave market in the New World. From this tumultuous past, it has preserved an artistic wealth and a highly varied cultural identity.

The heritage of these slaves, brought from Africa to work on the sugar plantations, is present everywhere; in the music and dances like the samba and the capoeira, the spicy cuisine, the religious rites with a strong voodoo influence and the warmth of the inhabitants, a warmth that reaches its apotheosis during Mardi Gras, with the world’s largest popular street carnival.

Unlike Rio, Salvador de Bahia’s carnival is not a show but a street celebration. For four days and four nights, the entire population is outdoors singing and dancing to the point that the city’s lively atmosphere has given it the reputation of constant feasting and celebrating. It is also one of Brazil’s most beautiful cities.

Its historic center, the Pelourinho, is filled with 17^th and 18^th century religious monuments, Baroque palaces and houses painted in vivid colors, decorated with magnificent stucco. Classified as a UNESCO world heritage, it has preserved its original colonial structures of which the Convento do Carmo is a prime example.

Brazil’s first luxury historic hotel

Located at the foot of the steep Largo do Pelourinho hill, once a center for the slave trade, the Pestana Convento do Carmo hotel is, as its name indicates, situated in a former Carmelite monastery. Built in 1586, this convent, which was the venue for numerous historical events, is now the first luxury historic hotel in Brazil.

Opened in October, 2005, this magnificent Baroque building hascontributed to the reputation of Pelourinho. Its superb patio, magnificent fountain, sumptuous novices’ chapel covered with traditional azulejos tiles, and its statues and paintings make it a must visit site in the city. Perfectly restored, it now has 79 rooms and suites spread over two floors. Since their original structures have been preserved, they are not all the same size, although they all provide the comfort and elegance of an upscale hotel. The refined furniture and the varied works of art are in total harmony with the authentic decor.

The latest modern equipment has been added to the hotel’s antique charm. In this secular and infinitely calm setting, the immense circular stone basin has been transformed into a swimming pool surrounded by restful covered pavilions. Belvederes nestled in the heart of the garden are ideal for relaxation, as is the spa, which proposes a wide variety of treatments.

At the end of the day, guests can enjoy a drink in the convent’s interior courtyard, under the arched passages, or in the elegant Rococo salon. And for dinner, authentic local cuisine is proposed onthe patio decorated with columns, or in the magnificent white tiled restaurant.

This superb modern, elegant and comfortable building is the epitome of rustic luxury and the colonial grandeur of this coastal Brazilian city with its rich cultural heritage.