SALVADOR

Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, was the first major port and the capital of colonial Brazil for almost two centuries. The city lies between green tropical hills and broad beaches along the bay of Todos os Santos. It was built on two levels with administration buildings and residences constructed on the hills; forts, docks, and warehouses on the beaches. To this day the city is still divided into upper and lower cities.

TOUR

-Terreiro de Jesus
The XV of November Square, best known as the Terreiro de Jesus (Jesus’ Square), maintains urban characteristics of the previous centuries. At the center of the square, there is a large iron fountain of French origin, dated 1855, that represents Ceres, the goddess of the agriculture.

- Museu da Cidade (City’s Museum)
Built in one of the oldest and most beautiful mansions in Pelourinho, it has an archive of traditional Bahia dolls, sculptures, rugs, ceramics, typical colonial clothing, religious pieces, as well as many natural-size paintings of the different orixás, and personal articles from Bahia’s famous poet, Castro Alves

-Solar do Ferrão
Located in the proximities of the Largo do Pelourinho, the construction of 5,000 m2 stores many articles from the second half of the eighteenth century.

-Solar do Unhão
Located in a historic farm of the sixteenth century, it was originally an agricultural complex for the production of sugar.It is the headquarter of MAM - Museum of Modern Art, with a total of eight exposition rooms, theatre-auditorium, video room, specialized library, and dada bank.

-Mercado Modelo
It has 259 stores with what Bahia has best to offer in the area of handcrafts from the state, as well as from the Northeast region (skirts, towels, hammocks, and many other pieces).

-Pelourinho
The main tourist attraction of Salvador, it has churches, museums, and some of the most popular and happiest bars and museums of the city. There are over eight hundred mansions dated from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

-Elevador Lacerda
The four sets of elevators of the largest public elevator in the world connect the seventy-two meters that separate the Tomé de Souza Square, in the higher part of the city, with the Cayru Square, in the lower part of the city.

-Castro Alves Square
The square, baptized with the name of the poet from Bahia, Antônio de Castro Alves, stages and is the heart of Salvador’s Carnival festivities.

-Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado
it is functioning in two mansions located in the heart of Pelourinho. The cultural center, created in order to preserve, study and to show the work of the great romance author from Bahia.

-Museu Abelardo Rodrigues
The house has the most valuable collection of private sacred art in Brazil.

-São Marcelo
fort dates back to 1624, it was built in order to protect the center of the city from attacks by foreigners. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, it served as a political prison. The only access to it, is by sea.

BEACHES:

-Porto da Barra
With calm water, visitors are attracted every day of the week.

-Farol da Barra
Protected by the rocks, it has calm water as well, and during low tide, many different natural pools are formed, surrounded by the rocks

-Ondina
With a sports complex and swimming pools, built on top pf the rocks, the beach can be an excellent option for leisure by people of all ages. It is the neighborhood the city’s zoo.

-Pituba
A beach with many rocks and yellow sand. Located in one of the most popular neighborhoods of Salvador, Pituba receives large numbers of beachgoers on the weekend. It also has a large variety of restaurants and bars.

-Pituaçu
Part of the beach is calm, protected by the rocks, and it has a large extension of excellent sand for a stroll on the beach. In addition, through out the beach there are cabanas that offer great infrastructure, serving typical appetizers.

-Artistas/Boca do Rio
A bohemian area with musicians, poets, and intellectuals come to this beach. It has great palm trees aligning the beach as well as sports courts. There are several bars and restaurants offering a great infrastructure.

-Itapuã
An exuberant scenery there are calm waves, and the ocean is protected by few rocks. At the beach, there are colonies of fishermen, who add to the scene with their small boats and rafts.

-Stella Mares
There are calm areas with natural swimming pools, as well as parts with great waves. It is the young crowd’s favorite beach, especially on the weekends

Churches:

Salvador has over 365 churches, of every different religion-The most Popular:

-The Basilica Cathedral
Built in the beginning of the eighteenth century. In the Cathedra’s Museum has archives containing gold and silver pieces
Location: Terreiro de Jesus (Jesus’ Square), Historic Center.

-São Francisco Church and Convent
One of the most spectacular churches in Brazil, its interior is completely covered in gold.
Location: Terreiro de Jesus (Jesus’ Square) – Historic Center of Salvador

-Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church
Located on top of the Colina Sagrada (Sacred Hill), in the Lower City, it is the most popular church in the state of Bahia.Location: Senhor do Bonfim Square, Cidade Baixa