Lacerda Elevator

Salvador is probably the only city in the world where one of the main attractions is the elevator. Yes, the elevator attracts hundreds of tourists every day. Tourists want to see the city and the harbor from a height and quickly get from one part of Salvador to another.

The Lacerda Elevator (Elevador Lacerda) is a high, especially designed elevator that connects Upper and Lower Salvador. Its height is 72 meters. Now it seems that this is not so much. But the construction of the Elevator began in 1869. It was a revolutionary project for that time.

To be sure, the elevator was always there. But before it became modern and automated, there was a manual "Elevator" used by monks to deliver their goods.The construction was supervised by the famous engineer Augusto Frederico de Lacerda after whom the elevator was named. The author of the elevator insisted that only steel produced in the UK should be used in construction. This significantly increased the cost of the elevator. However, the project was not abandoned. And 4 years later, in 1873, the elevator, equipped with two hydraulic elevators, began to carry passengers.

In 1906, the entire system was electrified. It simplified its maintenance and increased lifting speed. Now you can take the elevator to a height of 50 meters in just 30-40 seconds. And in 1930, the towers got their modern look: if they were just high technical structures before, now they have turned into a real work of art in the Art Deco style. Since 2002, one of the main attractions of the city - Elevador Lacerda - has been decorated with night lighting. It looks great! So there are even more people who want to ride this unusual elevator.