Historic squares and gardens of Salvador

an inventory’s proposal

Abstract

This article aims to address the process of documenting the public squares and gardens laid out in the city of Salvador between the end of the 19th century and 1950, in order to contribute to the identification and preservation of the local landscape heritage. The research is based on the study of primary documentary sources, bibliographic review on the history of Salvador, its urbanization processes and public spaces, with a special reference to geographer Milton Santos’ thesis on the city center (1959), and the city’s map of 1955. The methodology also considers the analysis of heritage charters, catalogs of public spaces and cultural heritage inventories, and field visits, in addition to the production of maps and plans. The text begins by discussing the role of inventory as an instrument for preserving the cultural heritage, as well as presenting an inventory model designed for Salvador's historic squares and gardens. Next, it presents an overview of Salvador’s downtown landscape, of which these open spaces are part. It then approaches Praça Castro Alves as a case study to which the proposed inventory sheet was applied, and briefly presents its final considerations.