Salvador, Brazil

Arts and Crafts Festival in Salvador, Brazil (cc)

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Salvador Travel Guide

Introduction

Salvador, more than any other city in Brazil, accurately reflects the character of the country. Its foods, its rhythms, its architecture, its landmarks, its cultural undercurrents, its populace – an alluring mix of Indian, Portuguese and African, even though the last is the predominant of the three – are uniquely Brazilian. Its history is reflected in its plantation-era mansions and gold-studded churches found in the old part of the city. Its cultural influences are apparent in its festivals, such as its street Carnaval, touted as the biggest party on the planet, and capoeira, a distinctly Afro-Brazilian blend of dance and martial arts. There is music and rhythm here that is a fabulous blend of samba and reggae. There are traditional foods known as Bahian that are piquant, seafood-centered, and infused with African spices. There are rituals, such as those of the African-origin candomblé, that are as fascinating as they are entrancing. There are colorful shops bursting with handicrafts, historic forts both picturesque and storied, sandy beaches at once lively and inviting, and an atmosphere that is as leisurely and festive as you're likely find in Brazil. Indeed, here is "Brazil's Capital of Happiness," the second-most visited destination in the country – right after Rio – which offers up a feast of sorts to the traveler.

Location

Salvador is located in the coastal state of Bahia in northeastern Brazil. It sits on a small, triangular peninsula that separates Todos os Santos Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Main Neighborhoods

Cidade Alta (Upper Town) - Upper Town comprises the core and major portion of the city and is situated 279 feet (85 m) above the Lower Town section, connected to the latter by a 19th-century elevator. The city's administrative buildings and principal cathedral are located here.