Salvador was founded as São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, it is the capital of the state of Bahia and the first capital of Colonial Brazil.
It is located in a micro-region of Salvador, the city has almost 3 million inhabitants, and together with the Metropolitan Region reaches more than 4 million inhabitants.
The city of Salvador was formerly called Bahía. It also received some nicknames such as the Capital of Joy (due to the huge popular festivities) and Black Rome, for being considered the city with the highest percentage of blacks outside of Africa.
Historical Center
The word Pelourinho (pillory in Spanish) refers to a stone column usually located in the center of a square, where criminals were exposed and punished.
In Brazil, and in particular the Pelourinho in Salvador de Bahía, its main purpose was to mistreat slaves by whipping. Once slavery was abolished in Brazil, this area attracted artists of all genres and became a great cultural center.
Salvador's pelourinho is a place full of colonial buildings painted in different colors, which have great historical and cultural value.
The traces of the capital of the colony for 250 years are reflected in the palaces, churches and convents of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Among the highlights are:
- The Cathedral of San Salvador: Former Jesuit church of the city, it was built in the second half of the 17th century.
- The Church and Convent of San Francisco: Franciscan convent and church dating from the first half of the 18th century.
- The Church of Our Lord of Bonfim: Rococo style church with neoclassical interior decoration.
- The Model Market: In 1861, in Cairu Square, the Customs Building was built, with a rotunda (a large circular room with a domed roof) at the end, where ships anchored to leave their merchandise. In 1971 the market began to operate in this building, and thirty years later, an empire arose at the bottom, which underwent a fergorma.
- The Lacerda Elevator: Inaugurated in 1873, this elevator was designed and built by the businessman Antônio Francisco de Lacerda. The four elevators connect a distance of 72 meters between Tomé de Souza Square in the upper city, and Cairu Square in the lower part.
Salvador de Bahia beaches
Salvador has numerous beaches along the Atlantic coast, and the coast of Bahía de Todos os Santos.
The main urban beaches are Itapuan, Pituba, Artistas, and Porto da Barra.
The city's beaches have some calmer ones, ideal for swimming, sailing, diving and underwater fishing, as well as open sea beaches, with strong waves, sought after by surfers.
There are also beaches surrounded by reefs that form natural pools.
See more about the history of Salvador de Bahía
