Santa Catarina Hill

Upon arriving at Santa Catarina Hill, you step onto one of the most symbolic points in Santos' history. This small rocky outcrop in the Historic Center is recognized as the initial landmark of the village's formation, where, in the 16th century, the nucleus that would give rise to the city of Santos merged. Here, a chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria was erected by Luís de Góis and Catarina de Aguillar. Next to it, in 1543, the first Santa Casa (Holy House) in the country was established. Over the centuries, the site witnessed invasions,reconstructions, and transformations—including the reduction of the hill, whose stones helped pave streets and expand the port. Today, on the remaining rocks, the castle-like house built in the 19th century by the doctor João Éboli stands out, in addition to the grotto and exhibition spaces that allow visitors to visualize the old village through models and historicalnarratives. The site also houses the headquarters of the Santos Archive and Memory Foundation, responsible for preserving documents and an important part of the city's memory. Between stone, memory, and urban landscape, Outeiro invites you to imagine the beginning of everything — a place where past and present meet and where the history ofSantos continues to echo in every detail.