The Prainha waterfront is the oldest part of Vila Velha and the site of the first Portuguese landing in Espírito Santo in 1535. What was once just a beach and a clutch of colonial buildings is now a small historic district with a promenade, old churches, and a handful of restored buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The area has been cleaned up considerably in recent years and makes a pleasant afternoon walk. The Memory House Museum and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary both sit within the historic core. It's a quiet, slightly faded district with genuine historical weight — nothing like the polished heritage centres of larger Brazilian cities, which is part of its appeal.