Salvador (Brazil) - Salvador (Brasile)

Salvador (often called Salvador de Bahia) is a city in the Northeast Brazil, capital of the State of Bahia.

To know

With a magnificent old town (UNESCO heritage), a lively music scene and carnival, Salvador is considered the cradle of Brazilian culture.

The inhabitants of Salvador, as well as the inhabitants of State of Bahia, they have a reputation for being relaxed, easy-going and fun-loving, even by Brazilian standards. On the other hand, this lifestyle is interpreted in a negative way branded as laziness and little desire to work, in contrast to St. Paul, considered a hard-working city. Be that as it may, few seem to worry about this bad reputation, and indeed joke about the alleged laziness. Most Brazilians agree that i soteropolitanos friendly and hospitable people. Residents like to share their skills as dancers and musicians with tourists, so much so that they are considered to be among the friendliest in the world. Tourists are always welcome and warmly welcomed.

Brazil is a land of social inequality but in few places is it as evident as in Salvador. Social segregation is evident, with many middle-class and wealthier residents living in gated neighborhoods, in contrast to the slums of higher areas.

Geographical notes

Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean it is located at the mouth of the deep "Bahia de Todos os Santos" ("Bay of all saints") in a flat area on which steep hills rise, the coast is an alternation of golden and low beaches dark cliffs.

Salvador is located on a peninsula that borders the Baia de Todos os Santos to the east. The historic center overlooks the bay and is divided into a low and a high part.

Salvador is the third largest city in the Brazil by population and extends for several kilometers inland. Most tourists, however, focus on the neighborhoods along the coast where the bay meets the ocean. The tropical climate offers lush nature.

When to go

The climate in Salvador is tropical, with frequent and short rainfall, constant heat mitigated by the influence of the sea (annual minimum 15 °, maximum 37 °). In winter (June-September) temperatures are a couple of degrees lower than in summer (December-February). The visit is recommended all year round due to the great cultural interest and the urban beaches, but during the carnival period the maximum number of tourists is reached.

Background

Around the year 1000, the Tupi peoples from the Amazon settled in the region.

The first European presence dates back to 1510 when a French ship was wrecked, the crew of which was Diogo Álvares, the famous Caramuru. In 1534, the chapel was erected in honor of Nossa Senhora da Graça.

In 1535 Francisco Pereira Coutinho landed who had been captained by the Portuguese king D. João III. Coutinho founded Arraial do Pereira, in the immediate vicinity where Ladeira da Barra is today. This camp, twelve years later, when the city was founded, was called Vila Velha.

The Indians did not like Pereira Coutinho due to his cruelty and arrogance in his treatment. For this reason, several indigenous uprisings took place while he was in the village. One forced him to take refuge in Porto Seguro, with Diogo Álvares; on the way back, in Baía de Todos os Santos, faced with a strong storm, the boat, adrift, arrived at the beach of Itaparica. In this, the Indians took him prisoner, but gave Caramuru his freedom. Francisco Pereira Coutinho was torn to pieces and served at an anthropophagic feast

On March 29, 1549, Tomé de Sousa and his crew arrived at Ponta do Padrão in Barra, with six ships, with orders from the king of Portugal to found a fortress city called San Salvatore. Thus was born the city of Salvador. On the landing place, on the beach of Porto da Barra, there is the "sign of the foundation of the city", a 6 meter high limestone column. The monument was laid by the Portuguese community in Bahia in 1952, restored in 2013.

With the governor, over a thousand people arrived on the ships. Three hundred and twenty nominations and salaries; among them the first doctor appointed in Brazil Dr. Jorge Valadares; and the pharmacist Diogo de Castro, six hundred soldiers, exiled nobles and the first Jesuit priests in Brazil, such as Manuel de Nóbrega, João Aspilcueta Navarro and Leonardo Nunes, among others. There were few women, which meant that the Portuguese living in Brazil later asked the Kingdom of Portugal to send brides.

Salvador was the first Brazilian capital replaced in 1763 by Rio de Janeiro. Center of the independence movement, it was also among the last territories lost by the Portuguese for the benefit of the new state of Brazil.

Salvador was the capital of the slave trade, a legacy still highlighted today by the presence of the large population of African descent. The resulting culture in many respects surpasses the rest of Brazil: in music, for example, many of the most important names of the twentieth century come from Salvador, such as Dorival Caymmi, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. In literature Jorge Amado can be mentioned.

How to orient yourself

• Municipal Square, Praça Tomé de Souza (Cidade Alta). Once the center of colonial Brazil, today it also offers splendid views of the sea. The Palácio Rio Branco is noteworthy, rebuilt in 1919; the original structure from 1549 housed the office of Tomé de Souza, the first governor general of Brazil. 
• Largo do Pelourinho (Cidade Alta). The square of the pillory, one of the oldest places in the city. 

Neighborhoods

The historic center is divided into Cidade Alta, on top of the cliff, e Cidade Baixa on the bay.

• High City - At the center of the Cidade Alta there are 2 large squares,Praça da Sé is Terreiro de Jesus, joined at the corner by the cathedral. Praça da Sé has fountains and the remains of the old church. Terreiro de Jesus is a historic place for religious celebrations, surrounded by 4 churches and the nineteenth-century building of the Faculdade de Medicina.

Along the narrow streets around the squares there are bars, hotels, craft shops and schools of music, dance and capoeira, all in an area that is full of tourists. The other area is more commercial, with the traffic of all buses coming from other areas of Salvador. The colonial area (cidade alta) is the historical area where there are churches and palaces from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century that overlook steep streets paved with large blocks of stone;

• Lower town - The lower city is less ancient but is equally popular with tourists. In fact, it presents some points of historical and cultural interest.

The other tourist districts are spread out on the coast, especially in the section south of the center. The stretch of coast north of the historic center, on the other hand, has few hotels and is not very popular. The inland districts are residential with several shopping centers.

• Vitória - South of the historic center, Vitória has been the subject of intense building speculation and today it is the most expensive neighborhood in the city, especially in the area overlooking the bay below. Some of the tallest buildings in the city have sprung up, such as the 143m Margarida Costa Pinto skyscraper

• Bar - It is the district further south, now on the extreme southern tip of the peninsula. It is the only one of Salvador's barrios to overlook both sea sides, that of the bay to the west and that of the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Its symbol is the "Farol da Barra", the lighthouse that stands on the tip, between the forts of Santa Maria and São Diogo. It also has a variety of popular public beaches, especially Porto da Barra.

• Rio Vermelho - It's the neighborhood east of Bar, It has a long coastline where luxury hotels overlook. Unlike other areas of the city, Rio Vermelho has preserved its old houses that overlook often narrow streets.

• Amaraline - It stands out for its nightlife less influenced by foreign tourism

• Itapuã - It is the neighborhood around the homonymous beach on the Atlantic Ocean, about 25 km from the center. Originally it was a fishermen's center, today it houses luxury hotels. It has a lively nightlife and few foreign tourists. To the north there are miles and miles of magnificent beaches, all accessible by bus.

How to get

By plane

• -12.90861-38.32251 Salvador Airport - Deputy Luís Eduardo Magalhães (IATA: SSA). L'Deputado Luis Eduardo Magalhães international airport it is one of the most important in Brazil and is directly connected to several Brazilian, US and European cities. It is located 28 km from the center, reachable by taxi or minibus. Domestic flights are operated by Goal Transportes Aéreos and from TAM.  

By bus

• -12.9775-38.4658332 ^{[link not working]}Rodoviário de Salvador terminal. The Rodoviário Terminal in Itaú is 8km east of the center. Bus lines operate there Real Expresso is Itapemirim for Fortaleza, Recife is Rio.  

How to get around

The old historic center can be explored on foot. To go up or down you can take the lift Elevador Lacerda or the tram. Bring some coins, the fare is R $ 0.15 and remember that the roads between the two sides can be dangerous even during the day.

By public transport

As in other Brazilian cities the service of the bus it is frequent but rather chaotic. The site of the Superintendência de Transporte Público it can still help you, although it is only in Portuguese.

• Underground (Metrô de Salvador). The subway runs from Lapa (in the center) a Bom Juá. The station ofCampo da Pólvora is 700 meters from the historic center and North access it is close to the shopping center Bela Vista^{[link not working]}.

Line 2 connects the city to the airport.  

By taxi

Be prepared to haggle the price, few taxi drivers use the meter. But you can go anywhere by taxi. Remember never to share the ride with strangers.

Beware of taxis that use tariff 2, at night, instead of the much cheaper 1.

On the train

The suburban rail service colleague Calçada in the lower town a Paripe.

What see

Civil and military architectures

• -12.975883-38.5117631 Palácio Rio Branco (Cidade Alta).  

• -12.982572-38.5204692 Solar do Unhão (Cidade Baixa). The best place to watch the sunset in the Bay of Todos os Santos. Inside there is a small museum, the Museu de Arte Moderna, and sometimes there are jazz concerts.  

• -13.010278-38.5327783 Forte Barra (Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra), Largo do Farol da Barra (Cidade Baixa), ☎ 55 71 3264-3296. The first of the fortifications built (1698) to defend the city from French and give it Spaniards at the beginning of the colonization period of South America. The fort also gives its name to the rather populous neighborhood, which is the starting point of the carnival parades. In addition to the splendid panorama, it houses the naval museum.  

Religious architectures

• -12.974631-38.5090534 Church and convent of San Francesco (Igreja and Convento de São Francisco), Largo Pelourinho (Cidade Alta). Baroque church with adjoining convent of the tertiary order; it is located on the central square of the historic Pelourinho district which takes its name from the column where slaves were whipped. An important colonial site, the church was built in the period 1708-1723, but the interiors were decorated by various artists throughout the 18th century and are considered among the finest examples of Portuguese-Brazilian Baroque art. From this site it is possible to virtually visit the interior of the church.  

• -19.590278-42.7102785 Cathedral (Catedral-Basílica Primacial de São Salvador) (Cidade Alta). Baroque church, with a bare interior but a beautiful wooden ceiling.  

• -12.97111-38.5080676 Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (Cidade Alta).  

• -12.974671-38.5090527 Igreja da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, Rua São Francisco (Cidade Alta). R $ 3.  

• -12.968559-38.507218 Igreja and Convento de Nossa Senhora do Carmo.  

• -12.9237-38.50819 Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim (Bonfim). Small church to the north, considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Brazil. Church with a neoclassical facade but with a baroque interior. It is located on a hill in the Bonfim district and is characterized by an evident religious syncretism.  

Museums

• -12.971661-38.50846910 Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado, Largo do Pelourinho (Cidade Alta). Jorge Amado never lived in the Pelourinho neighborhood (his real home in another area of ​​the city has also been home to a museum since 2014), but many of his novels are set in this historic district that made him famous throughout. the world.

The Foundation was opened in 1987 in a colonial building with a blue facade. The author's archive, a research center and a museum with his personal objects and the covers of the countless editions of his works all over the world are collected on the four floors of the permanent exhibition. The languages ​​into which Amado was translated are also remembered by a mural on the ground floor, where more than 60 are listed.  

• -12.971776-38.51053311 ^{[link not working]}Museu da Cidade, Largo do Pelourinho, 3 (Pelourinho), ☎ 55 3321 1967, @[email protected]. R $ 3. Very interesting museum that collects all the statues of the deities of candomblé.  
• -12.97379-38.5120612 Museu da Misericórdia, Rua da Misericórdia, 6, ☎ 55 71 3322 7355. R $ 5. 
• -12.972519-38.51002513 ^{[link not working]}Museu Afro-Brasileiro (In the Cidade Alta). R $ 5. Mon-Fri 9: 00-18: 00, Sat-Sun 10: 00-17: 00.  
• -12.993579-38.52593614 ^{[link not working]}Museu de Arte da Bahia, 7 de Sepembro 2340, @[email protected]. R $ 5/3.  
• -12.964799-38.51115715 Museu de Arqueologia and Ethnology, Faculdade de Medicina, Terreiro de Jesus, @[email protected]. R $ 6.  
• Museu Náutico da Bahia, Largo do Farol da Barra, ☎ 55 3264 3296. R $ 10/5. Forte de Santo Antônio da Barra 
• -12.982456-38.52061716 Museu de Arte Moderna, Contour s / n, ☎ 55 3117 6139. R $ 6/3. Avant-garde but also times not always respected. Take a taxi because it is in an isolated area and there have been episodes of robberies against tourists.  
• -12.994586-38.52716417 Museu Carlos Costa Pinto, 7 de Setembro 2490 (Vitoria district). R $ 5. Collection of the couple Carlos de Aguiar Costa Pinto and his wife Margarida, both born in Bahia at the end of the 19th century. The collection is remarkable and the outdoor bar is also very nice.  

Events and parties

• Carnival. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Salvador's carnival is the largest in the world. It lasts for weeks and attracts thousands of Brazilians and tourists from all over. The parades generally follow three circuits: one in the historic center Pelourinho (with costumed groups), one in Campo Grande, where samba is played, and in recent years that of Barra / Ondina, where modern Brazilian Axé music joins rhythms and music of other genres and styles, and the bands parade through the boxes Camarote on one side and the beach on the other. To attend, you can stand on the boxes on the side or take one of the T-shirts that allows you to walk together with the various groups.  

What to do

• -12.974167-38.5133331 Elevador Lacerda, Rua da Conceição da Praia, Salvador, Bahia, Brasil (Cidade Baixa), ☎ 55 71 3103-3103. R $ 0.15. The beautiful art-deco lift connects the Cidade Alta with Comércio via 4 lifts that travel 72 m in about 30 sec. The first was installed by the Jesuits in 1610 to transport goods and passengers from the port to the settlement. In 1868 the iron structure was inaugurated and replaced by the electrical system in 1928. In front of it you can admire the Câmara Municipal, the 17th century town hall. From the top you can enjoy a spectacular view.  

Beaches and parks

• Abaeté Park. Park that extends around the lake of the same name. The contrast between the dark water and the white beach is beautiful. Bars and entertainment in the area. 
• Praia Porto da Barra (Porto da Barra beach), Praia Porto da Barra, Salvador, Bahia (near Avenida Oceânica and Avenida Sete de Setembro). Praia Porto da Barra looks like Pelourinho: small picturesque, crowded, full of sellers of everything and about half of the people are foreigners. To the left of the lighthouse Praia do Farol da Barra is popular with surfers. There are bars and restaurants open all day, but at night it can be less pleasant. 

The ideal for fun is to go on vacation to Salvador during the carnival. However, there are many other opportunities and opportunities for fun including golf, surfing on the beach, visiting natural areas and much more.

Shopping

• -12.973-38.51411 Mercado Modelo (Cidade Baixa). The main market of the city, in the nearby square you can see the capoeiristas, not surprisingly there capoeira was born in this area.  

How to have fun

Where to eat

The restaurants in Bahia are excellent and almost all offer South American cuisine with a few exceptions. Try fish dishes such as grilled badejo. In Terreiro de Jesus you can also eat well at the stands of Afro-Brazilians baianas in their traditional white clothes. Try the Abara: cream of beans, dende oil and onions cooked in banana leaf and spices.

There acarajé are bean fritters and onions fried in palm oil with vatapá (shrimp cream, spicy). The Baianas sell them on the street.

Moderate prices

• Acarajé da Cira, Largo de Itapuã, ☎ 55 71 3249-4170. 
• Acarajé from Dica, Rua J, Castro Rabelo (Pelourinho). 
• Quiosque de Amaralina, Ave Otávio Mangabeira (Amaraline). 

Average prices

• Bistrô PortoSol (Near Porto da Barra). Small Austro-Hungarian restaurant run by an Austrian and his wife. 
• Pizza company, Rio Vermelho. Famous pizzeria in town. 
• Maria Mata Mouro (Pelourinho). Small, only 12 tables but good. Try the shrimp. 
• Meridian, Ave Tancredo Neves (In front of Casa do Comércio). Gourmet cuisine at a good price. 
• Panela da Bahia, Rua Frei Vicente, 7 (Pelourinho). Bahian cuisine and tropical drinks, very good. 

High prices

• Amado, Ave Contour. Contemporary cuisine. 
• Barbacoa, Ave Tancredo Neves. Meat to one of the best bean stew by Salvador. 
• Boi Preto, Boca do Rio (In front of Aeroclube Plaza Show near the convention center). One of the best churrascarias in the city. 
• Mixture (Itapoã). Specialized in fish dishes and international cuisine. 

Where stay

There are accommodations for all budgets and needs. The most expensive are close to the beach.

Moderate prices

• Ibis Salvador Rio Vermelho, Rua Fonte do Boi, 215, Rio Vermelho, ☎ 55 71 3172-4100. 
• -13.007758-38.5158331 Ondimar hotels, Avenida Oceânica, 1843, Ondina, ☎ 55 71 3339-8383. 
• -12.98798-38.435852 Rede Andrade Plaza Salvador, Avenida Otávio Mangabeira, 4581 (Praia de Armação). 
• -12.947992-38.3671043 Praia da Sereia, Avenida Dorival Caymmi, 14, Itapoã, ☎ 55 71 3285-8100. 

• Che Lagarto Hostel Salvador, Avenida Oceânica, 84 (Bar), ☎ 55 71 3235-2404, @[email protected]. 

Average prices

• -13.015111-38.4849714 Mercure Salvador Rio Vermelho, Rua Fonte do Boi, 215 (Rio Vermelho), ☎ 55 71 3172 9200. 
• ^{[link not working]}Golden Park Hotel, Av. Manoel Dias da Silva, 979 (Pituba), ☎ 55 71 2201-5622. 
• -13.005471-38.5328725 Marazul Hotel, Av. Sete de Setembro, 3937 (Bar), ☎ 55 71 3264-8200. 
• -13.008907-38.5156536 Atlantic Towers, Av. Oceânica, 1545 (Undine), ☎ 55 71 2203-3000. 

High prices

• -12.96856-38.507197 Convent of Carmo (Carmo), Rua do Carmo, 1 - Santo Antônio Além do Carmo, (Cidade Alta), ☎ 55 71 3327-8400. Sixteenth-century convent recently converted into a luxury hotel. 
• Aram Yami, Rua Direita de Santo António, 132 (Centro Histórico), ☎ 55 71 32429412. 
• Zank Hotel Boutique, Rua Almirante Barroso, 161 (Rio Vermelho), ☎ 55 71 3083 4000, @[email protected]. 
• Casa do Amarelindo hotels, Rua das Portas do Carmo, 06 (Pelourinho), ☎ 55 71 3266 8550, @[email protected]. 
• Vila Galé Salvador, Rua Morro Escravo Miguel, 320 (In Praia de Ondina), ☎ 55 71 3263 9999, fax: 55 71 3263 8800, @[email protected]. 5 stars near the beach. 
• Pestana Bahia, Rua Fonte do Boi, 216 (Rio Vermelho), ☎ 55 71 2103 8000. With 430 rooms, it is the largest hotel in the city. 
• Pestana Bahia Lodge, Rua Fonte do Boi, 216 (Rio Vermelho), ☎ 55 71 2103 8000. 
• Villa Bahia (Pelourinho), ☎ 55 71 3322 4271. Colonial-style luxury hotel. 

Safety

Salvador is famous for the crimes against tourists who wander around without taking precautions or paying little attention. The most important tourist sites such as Pelourinho and Mercado Modelo, and events such as the Carnival, however, are usually very controlled by the police.

It is always better to go around during the day if you are traveling on foot, by bus or by bike. Do not carry valuables with you and never too much money. The beaches of Flamengo and Stella Maris are quiet during the day.

As a rule, don't trust strangers who come to meet you in a friendly way.

At night it is best to take a taxi to go out and stay in crowded areas. If you don't see other tourists, be even more careful.

• Some areas frequented by tourists at night can be as dangerous as the port of Barra. Avoid the beach at night.
• The long road from the old town to the port should be avoided even during the day. Always take the elevator.
• If you are staying in Barra beware of the favela near Shopping Barra, especially at night. The area east towards the beach can also be dangerous.
• Beware of traffic. Even when crossing a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights, only move when the cars are stopped.
• Never share a taxi with strangers, it could be an excuse to rob you.
• Beware of children in Pelourinho, they are often pickpockets.

How to keep in touch

Around

In a day to the island of -12.887778-38.6788893 Itaparica.

Salvador is an excellent base for reaching also:

North

• -12.75-38.1666674 Praia de Arembepe - Small beach along the Costa dos Coqueiros for surfing.

• -12.5769-38.00625 Praia do Forte - "Project Tamar" beach and turtle sanctuary.

• -12.4923-37.96176 Imbassaí (10 km north of Praia do Forte) - Quiet village between the sea and a river, the view is splendid.

• -12.234-37.7737 Massarandupió- 90 km from Salvador, a true paradise with a semi-deserted beach. Walking you reach a nudist area. Camping area near the beach.

South

• -13.381667-38.9138898 Morro de Sao Paulo - Island very popular with tourists and Brazilians, beautiful beaches.

• -13.6-38.99 Ilha de Boipeba - Beautiful island.

Other projects

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