The Vila quarter is the oldest settled part of Ilhabela, located about six kilometres from the ferry terminal on the western coast. The ferry tender docks right here, and on foot you can cover the main sights in a couple of hours. The centrepiece is the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora D'Ajuda e Bom Sucesso, a colonial Jesuit-style church whose unusual construction from shells, stones, and whale oil gives it a rougher, more organic look than typical Brazilian baroque. The square in front of it fills up in the evenings with locals and visitors.
A short walk away is the Antiga Cadeia e Fórum — the old jail and courthouse — a squat colonial building that now houses the Museu Náutico, a small but well-curated museum of the island's maritime history including shipwreck artefacts. The Rua do Meio (Middle Street) runs through the old town lined with low colonial houses converted into restaurants, boutiques, and craft shops. On weekends an artisan fair sets up in the main square, good for local pottery, woven goods, and caiçara food products.