Located at the mouth of the Vaza-Barris River, São Cristóvão is renowned for its historic city square, São Francisco Square, and its many early colonial-period buildings. This 3-hectare site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. It is the fourth oldest settlement in the country and the third largest in the Brazilian state of Sergipe, with a population of 91,093 (2020 estimate). The city is home to the Federal University of Sergipe, which was established in 1968.