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Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia. Nowadays,
an important city of 2,211.539 people, Salvador was founded
on March 29, 1549, on the shores of the bay of All Saints ("Baia de
Todos os Santos") and was Brazil's first capital, a position it kept
for 214 year (1549-1763). |
It has influences from Portugal, Africa and Asia. A
great part of its colonial architecture is still preserved making the
city the largest collection of Baroque art in South America. Churches,
monuments, old houses and squares maintain the traditions of this
ancient city. The Pelourinho, (called "Pelô" by the
locals), as the old part of the city is called, is an incredibly
well-preserved quarter of colonial-style buildings that is currently a
bustling area of restaurants, art galleries, craft stores and wondrous
churches.
In addition to its colonial past, Salvador is also
famous for being an African cultural center in Brazil. For five
centuries, blacks and whites have lived together in this city, their
cultures melting into one: Bahia's unique culture. That culture can be
seen in different aspects: folk dances, craftwork, festivals, religious
practices and cuisine.
Salvador's coastline covers an area of more than 386
square miles (or 1,000 square km) encompassing 56 islands in the bay.
You can find some of the most magnificent beaches of the Brazilian coast
in Bahia. The local tourism authorities recommend Salvador as one of the
best places for water sports in the Americas, such as windsurfing.
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