Vila Velha

Vila Velha is a town in Espírito Santo, Brazil on the coast. It lies across from Vitória, the state capital, and has a population of roughly 300,000. Its area is about 211 square kilometers.

To the north is Vitória, to the west Cariacica and Viana, to the south Guarapari, and to the east the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Vila Velha is the oldest township in Espírito Santo, having been founded on the 23rd of May, 1535. First called Vila do Espírito Santo, it was founded by Vasco Fernandes Coutinho and was then the capital of Espírito Santo. Coutinho, owner of the Espírito Santo colony, had to go back to Portugal around 1550 to try and find more colonists, for there were too few. On coming back there had been problems keeping order amongst the colonists, slaves, and indians, which had forced most inhabitants to flee to the island of Vitória, which Coutinho made into the capital upon his return. Afterward, Vila Velha remained a quiet village until quite recently, as in the census of 1828 there were only 1250 people in the village. Today, Vila Velha is the biggest city in all the state, but the rural exodus causes some social troubles like crime.

References

• History of Vila Velha (in Portuguese)