Vila Velha
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AI overview
Vila Velha is a municipality located in Espírito Santo state in Brazil. It is one of the largest and most populous cities in the state, serving as an important urban and economic center in the region.
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Key facts
- Country
- Brazil
- Region
- Southeast
- State
- Espírito Santo
- Districts
- Argolas, Ibes, Jucu, São Torquato and Vila Velha (seat)
- Founded
- 23 May 1535
- Mayor
- Arnaldinho Borgo (2025-2028) ( Podemos )
- Municipality
- 210 km (81 sq mi)
- Urban
- 54.57 km (21.07 sq mi)
- Estimate 2024
- 502,899
- Density
- 2,200/km (5,800/sq mi)
- Demonym
- Vila-velhense
- Time zone
- UTC-3 ( UTC−3 )
- Postal code
Article
Vila Velha ( Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvilɐ ˈvɛʎɐ]; lit. 'Old Village') is a Brazilian municipality situated on the coast of the state of Espírito Santo, in the Southeast Region of Brazil. It is part of the Greater Vitória Metropolitan Area and covers an area of 209.965 km (81.068 sq mi), of which 54.57 km (21.07 sq mi) is within the urban area. According to estimates by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) in 2024, its population was 502,899 inhabitants, making it the second most populous municipality in Espírito Santo, surpassed only by Serra.
Founded on 23 May 1535 by the Portuguese Vasco Fernandes Coutinho, the grantee of the Captaincy of Espírito Santo, Vila Velha served as the captaincy’s capital until 1549, when the seat was transferred to Vitória. As the oldest city in the state, it is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Fort of São Francisco Xavier de Piratininga, the Santa Luzia Lighthouse, and the Penha Convent. The latter, constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries, is one of Espírito Santo’s primary tourist attractions and was designated a national cultural heritage site by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 1943.