Five Fascinating Colonial Destinations in Latin America

Cities throughout Latin America hold historical treasures that are world heritage sites thanks to the enormous cultural value that is recognized by tourists from all over the world. The great colonial history is reflected in their extraordinary cathedrals, churches, and squares that are admired by millions of visitors every year.

These five are some of the most representative cities of the great baroque architecture of Spain and Portugal that visitors cannot miss.

Located approximately two hours south of Mexico City, Puebla is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture on the continent. At the time of the Spanish Colony, this city was one of the most prominent in terms of politics and religious influence, which is why the main Catholic orders were established. This resulted in the construction of the most important temples in the continent that today are a great attraction for national and international tourists, of which we mention the following:

This colonial jewel was founded in a strategic place for the Spanish Crown. Its bay, the largest in the Caribbean, was the most important of the time and today is one of the favorite places for millions of tourists. This charming city has cobbled streets, balconies, old houses, and viewpoints that make it one of the favorites of tourism.

The city center and the neighborhood of Gestemani are two emblematic places for tourism because of the great history and culture that have the two entrances to the sea: Boca Grande and Boca Chica. In addition to this, a great wall was used to protect the city from foreign powers and harassment from pirates. This place, full of history and tradition, is one of the most attractive to enjoy in this fabulous city. Also, in the neighborhood of Gestemani, visitors can know the places where slaves lived and the fun sites of the sailors of the time.

The Historic Center has important churches hundreds of years old and houses that have become cozy luxury and boutique hotels, as well as gourmet restaurants and all kinds of shops for tourists. Another highly recommended site is Castillo San Felipe de Barajas which is the largest military construction in South America and one of the seven wonders of Colombia. Under its walls are about 700 yards of tunnels that were kept full of explosives to destroy the castle in case it was taken by the invaders.

Founded in 1549, this was the first capital of Brazil by order of the king of Portugal, so today it has the largest colonial historical center in the country. It offers tourists hundreds of churches and more than 5,000 buildings considered historical heritage. One of its main attractions is Pelourinho, a fascinating town characterized by the fusion of Portuguese colonial architecture with Afro-Brazilian culture.

Salvador de Bahia was very important for the Portuguese Crown because a large quantity of sugar, tobacco, and cocoa was exported from there, but it was also an important port of entry for slaves from Africa. All this historical heritage can be seen in the streets of this picturesque city that today is a center of great economic contribution to the economy of Brazil.

In addition to this, the cloister, which used to function as an orphanage, has now become an attractive restaurant and craft shop for visitors. Tourists can also admire the Convento Museo de la Recoleta, which has a large collection of religious and pre-Columbian art as well as an important collection of old paintings.