"Once upon a time, by the beach, there was a small village of country folk… There were no rents, food was given. You hardly ever saw money. Nobody ate meat, except for wild game. And lots of fish. Abundance, abundance, even of crabs. In terms of weaknesses, nothing was missing—except for electricity and running water. People fetched water from the river. They tended the fields and the little houses—all beautiful, smoothed by hand. Everyone would help at the clay pit. There was singing… yes, they sang, for the fields, for the clay… and in an instant, the house would rise. Made of clay, straw, vines, and wood, most were empty but filled up on festival days. Because here, the first concern of the people was to throw a party!"*
Excerpt from the book Nativos e Biribandos by Fernanda Carneiro and Cristina Agostinho, which vividly shows what Trancoso was like a few decades ago. A worthwhile read for anyone who wants to get to know the essence of Trancoso.
Why Trancoso?
Most tourists who come to Trancoso love the beaches, the late-afternoon stroll around the Quadrado, the charming São João Batista church—there’s nothing cuter—the excellent restaurants with a variety of cuisines, the warmth of the Bahian people, and that carefree vibe filled with beautiful people. However, few understand or know the history of this place, its customs, and the spots that made the “hippies” of the 1970s fall in love with this village.
What keeps so many people in Trancoso is the nature that changes every day yet remains the same—beautiful! The daily life among people from all over the world, yet still with space to enjoy solitude. The kind native Bahian locals and those who have become Trancosenses at heart remind you every day, even without words, that the simple things in life matter most… time for love and the sky. Yes, because there’s no sky more starry than Trancoso’s!
The first to discover Trancoso, in 1586, were the Jesuits, and for almost 400 years, Trancoso remained practically hidden. Its name has changed a few times: Aldeia de São João Batista, Villa Nova Trancoso, and it evolved from a village to a small town, then a municipality, and finally, a district of Porto Seguro.
So I invite you to stay a little longer here and discover the wonders of today’s Trancoso, with its areas for improvement but with so much to offer, if you know how to take care of it.
We’ll help you explore the most beautiful beaches, try adventure sports if you like, experience the best of the main restaurants, and feel like a Trancosense for a while.