Salvador, Bahia

Salvador is the capital city of the state of Bahia in Brazil. It is one of the oldest cities in the Americas, founded in 1549 by Tomé de Sousa. As the first capital of Colonial Brazil, it has a rich history shaped by Portuguese colonization and its unique geography.

The city is famous for its colorful architecture, especially in the Historic Center, which was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Salvador is also known for its lively music and big Carnival celebrations, which are some of the largest in the world.

With over 2.4 million people, Salvador is a big and important city. It is a center for business, education, and tourism, and it has hosted many important events from around the world. The city sits near the Bay of All Saints and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a beautiful coastal location.

History

See also: Timeline of Salvador, Bahia

Salvador is located on a small peninsula that separates the Bay of All Saints from the Atlantic Ocean. It was first seen by explorer Gaspar de Lemos in 1501, just after Cabral is believed to have discovered Brazil. During his second voyage, explorer Amerigo Vespucci saw the bay on All Saints' Day in 1502 and named it after that date and his church in Florence.

The city was founded in 1549 by Portuguese settlers led by Tomé de Sousa, making it one of the oldest European cities in the Americas. It became Brazil's first capital and an important port for trade and industry. The city grew with a mix of cultures, especially from Africa, shaping its music, food, and traditions.

The city has many important historical buildings and areas, like the Pelourinho neighborhood, which UNESCO named a World Heritage Site in 1985. Today, Salvador is known for its beautiful beaches, such as Porto da Barra Beach, and it hosted big events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Geography

Climate

Salvador has a tropical rainforest climate, which means the weather stays quite similar all year. The temperature does not change much. The driest months are December and January, with less than 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain. The wettest months are April, May, and June, when each month gets at least 20 centimeters (8 inches) of rain.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Brazil and Demographics of South America

In 2010, Salvador was the third-largest city in Brazil, after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Today, it is the 5th largest city in Brazil. The city had many families and some couples of the same gender. Most of the people in Salvador are women.

Ethnic groups

According to the 2022 census, about 2.4 million people live in Salvador. Many people in Salvador come from different backgrounds. Some have African roots, others from European countries, and some from Native American groups. The city has a rich mix of cultures from Benin, Angola, Congo, Senegal, and Mozambique.

Religion

See also: Religion in Brazil, Protestantism in Brazil, and Roman Catholic Church in Brazil

Salvador has many churches and religious groups. The city has a long history with the Roman Catholic Church, which arrived when the city was founded. Over time, many different religious groups have come to the city.

Many people in Salvador follow a religion called Candomblé, which mixes African beliefs with Catholicism. This religion has continued even though it faced challenges in the past.

Source: IBGE 2010.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Brazil

Salvador has been very important in Brazil's history. Because it is on the northeast coast, the city was a key place for the Portuguese Empire during the time when Brazil was a colony. It kept strong trade links with Portugal and Portuguese colonies in Africa and Asia.

Salvador was Brazil's main city until 1763 when the capital moved to Rio de Janeiro. In recent years, many tall office and apartment buildings have been built next to older colonial houses and shops.

Salvador is a very popular place to visit in Brazil, second only to Rio de Janeiro. Tourism and cultural activities help create jobs and bring money, supporting the arts and protecting historic sites.

Visitors love the famous Pelourinho district, historic churches, and beautiful beaches. Salvador has modern tourism facilities, including many places to stay, from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Building new structures is a big part of the city's work, with developers from Spain, Portugal, and England investing in the area.

JAC Motors plans to build a factory near Salvador, creating many jobs and making cars for the world.

In 2001, Monsanto Company opened a large plant near Salvador to make important materials for farming products. This was a big investment and became the company's biggest plant outside the United States.

Government and politics

Salvador has played an important role in Brazil's politics because it was the first capital of the country. The city's leaders have often come from a group of families with European roots, even though most people in Salvador have African roots. This has made it hard for Afro-Brazilians to have a big say in the city's government.

Since January 2021, the mayor of Salvador has been Bruno Soares Reis from the União Brasil party. Mayors serve for four years and work with a deputy mayor, who is also elected for four years. The city has 43 councilors who help make decisions for the community.

See also: List of mayors of Salvador, Bahia Further information (in Portuguese): Salvador City Council

Tourism and recreation

Salvador has a very long coastline with many beaches. There are 80 kilometers of beaches split between the higher part of the city and the lower part. The lower part beaches are next to All Saints Bay, while most of the higher part beaches are by the Atlantic Ocean, except for Porto da Barra Beach, which is in the bay.

These beaches are great for different activities. Some are calm and good for swimming, sailing, diving, and fishing under the water. Others have big waves that surfers love. There are also beaches with reefs that create natural pools, perfect for children to play.

Near Salvador, there are many interesting places to see. Porto da Barra Beach was once named one of the best beaches in the world. Itaparica Island can be reached by ferry and has beautiful views. There is also a highway with lovely beaches leading toward Sergipe state, and Morro de São Paulo, an island with five small villages you can get to by ferry, plane, or bus.

The city has many shops and several museums. One famous museum is the Museum of Modern Art of Bahia, designed by the well-known architect Lina Bo Bardi. It shows modern Brazilian art and has live music events. Other museums explore the African influence on Brazilian culture and the lifestyle of people from colonial times.

Salvador also has several parks. Jardim dos Namorados Park, opened in 1969, has playgrounds, sports areas, and a place for concerts. Park of the City has a flower square with thousands of plants. Pituaçu Park is a big green space with a pond, paths for bicycles, and an outdoor art museum with many sculptures and paintings.

The city has many old buildings with beautiful architecture, like churches and forts built hundreds of years ago.

Jardim dos Namorados Park is next to Costa Azul Park and covers 15 hectares in Pituba. Many families used to vacation there in the 1950s. It was opened as a place to relax in 1969 and was fully updated in the 1990s. Now it has an amphitheater for 500 people, sports courts, playgrounds, and parking for cars and buses.

Park of the City is an important area for protecting Atlantic forest. It was completely updated in 2001 and now has 720 square meters of green space right in the city center. One of its highlights is Praça das Flores, a flower square with over five thousand ornamental plants and flowers.

Besides nature, the park has special events for children every October.

Pituaçu Park was created in 1973 and covers 450 hectares, making it one of the few ecological parks in an urban area in Brazil. It is surrounded by Atlantic forest and has many different plants and animals. There is also an artificial pond built in 1906, originally to supply water to the city.

In the park, you can enjoy many fun activities. You can ride cycloboats on the pond or cycle along a 38-kilometer path around the whole reserve. There is also a museum in the park called Espaço Cravo. It is an outdoor museum with 800 pieces of art by Mario Cravo, including totems, winged figures, three-dimensional shapes, drawings, and paintings.

• Colonial architecture in Salvador

  Cathedral Basilica of Salvador, built between 1657 and 1679.

[Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha, Salvador](/wiki/Church_of_Nossa_Senhora_da_Penha,_Salvador), built between 1723 and 1784.

Church and Convent of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, built in 1681.

[Church da Ordem Terceira de São Francisco (Salvador)](/wiki/Church_da_Ordem_Terceira_de_São_Francisco_\(Salvador\)), built between 1702 and 1705.

[Church do Santíssimo Sacramento e Sant'Ana](/wiki/Church_do_Santíssimo_Sacramento_e_Sant'Ana), built between 1696 and 1702.

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  Church and Convent of São Francisco, Salvador, built between 1686 and 1752.

[Church and Hospice of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem](/wiki/Church_and_Hospice_of_Nossa_Senhora_da_Boa_Viagem), built in 18th century.

[Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos](/wiki/Church_of_Nossa_Senhora_do_Rosário_dos_Pretos,_Salvador), built in the 18th century, with current decoration executed between the 1870s and 1890s.

Fort of Santo Antônio da Barra, built between 1696 and 1702.

Education

Salvador has many places where people can study, including several universities such as Universidade Federal da Bahia and Universidade Católica do Salvador. There are also many primary and secondary schools, such as Pan American School of Bahia and Colégio Marista, where students can learn and grow.

Public safety

Salvador faces many safety challenges, with increases in serious incidents over the years. It is important for visitors and residents to stay informed and take proper precautions. While there are concerns about certain types of incidents, the city also works to keep its community safe.

Culture

See also: Culture of Brazil

Salvador's history and culture come from the mixing of Native-Indian, African, and European people. This mix is seen in the city's religion, food, traditions, and customs. African culture is especially celebrated here.

Literature

Gregório de Mattos, born in Salvador in 1636, was one of the most important Baroque poet in colonial Brazil, known for his religious and funny poems. Father António Vieira was born in 1608 in Lisbon but grew up and died in Salvador, famous for his powerful sermons in the Portuguese language.

After Brazil became independent in 1822, Salvador kept its important role in Brazilian literature. Famous writers from the 1800s include Castro Alves, a Romantic poet, and Ruy Barbosa, a diplomat. In the 1900s, Jorge Amado helped make Salvador famous around the world with novels such as Jubiabá, Dona Flor e Seus Dois Maridos, and Tenda dos Milagres, all set in Salvador.

Cuisine

Salvador's food is spicy and full of seafood like shrimp and fish. It uses special ingredients and ways of cooking from Africa. A key ingredient is azeite-de-dendê, oil from a palm tree brought from West Africa long ago.

Local dishes often use coconut juice to make tasty seafood meals. They also make sweet treats from sugar cane and coconut. In Salvador's markets, you can find traditional foods like Mocotó eaten on Friday nights. Restaurants along the coast and in Pelourinho serve many dishes using palm tree oil.

Popular foods include caruru, vatapá, acarajé, bobó-de-camarão, moqueca baiana, and abará. Some of these are also used in special religious ceremonies. Salvador also has restaurants with foods from other parts of Brazil, like Minas Gerais and the Northeast region.

Capoeira

Capoeira is a special mix of dance and martial art from Afro-Brazilian culture. It combines quick dance moves with fighting moves. Capoeira started in Quilombo dos Palmares and Salvador is where modern capoeira began. In the early 1900s, local masters Mestre Bimba and Mestre Pastinha helped teach and spread capoeira around Brazil and the world. Today, capoeira is enjoyed by people all over.

Museums

Salvador's history and culture are kept safe in its museums. The Museu de Arte da Bahia (MAB) is the oldest in the state, showing paintings, old furniture, and special items from the 1700s and 1800s. Other museums like Museu Costa Pinto and Museu da Cidade also protect important pieces of the city's past. The Museum of Modern Art of Bahia is located in a historic building on the Bay of All Saints.

Some churches and monasteries also have museums. After renovation, new museums like Museu Náutico and the Museum of Communication were opened in old forts. Other well-known museums in Salvador include Museu do Cacau, State Museum of Geology, and Museu Rodin Bahia.

Public art

The streets of Salvador are full of colorful murals and sculptures, many made by the artist Bel Borba, who was born in the city.

Carnival

Main articles: Bahian Carnival and Brazilian Carnival

The Bahian Carnival is one of the biggest parties in the world. For a whole week, about 4 million people celebrate along 25 kilometers of streets and squares. Over 100,000 people help organize the event, and Salvador welcomes around 800,000 visitors. The carnival features lots of music, dance, and colorful parades.

Music at the carnival includes axé and samba-reggae. Famous groups, called blocos, take part, with well-known ones being blocos afros such as Malé Debalé, Olodum, and Filhos de Gandhi.

Parades happen on different routes. The Osmar Circuit is the oldest and goes from Campo Grande to Castro Alves Square. The Downtown Circuit runs through the city center and Pelourinho. The Dodô Circuit follows the coast from Farol da Barra to Ondina. The Osmar Circuit is where the most traditional groups parade, while Dodô becomes very lively in the late afternoon and continues until morning.

Music

Salvador is home to groups called "blocos-afros," such as Ilê Aiyê, Olodum, and Timbalada. These groups celebrate African culture through their music and dance, reflecting the city's history.

Xisto Bahia from Salvador recorded the song Isto É Bom in 1902, which many consider the first song ever recorded in Brazil.

Libraries

The first books in Salvador were brought by the Jesuits who came with Tomé de Souza. Early libraries and bookstores were controlled by religious missionaries and mostly had books about religion.

Handcrafts

Bahia is famous for its handmade crafts using simple materials like straw, leather, clay, wood, seashells, and beads. Some crafts use metals like gold, silver, copper, and brass, and are decorated with gems.

Craftsmen often make items showing Catholic saints or Candomble deities. They also create good luck charms and pieces showing nature and local wildlife. Music is shown in instruments like drums and the berimbau.

Salvador is known worldwide for its musical instruments, often used by famous musicians. The main place to buy crafts is Mercado Modelo, Latin America's largest craft market.

You can also find crafts at Instituto de Artesanato de Mauá and at Instituto do Patrimônio Artístico e Cultural (IPAC), which help promote Bahian's traditional art.

Transportation

Airport

Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International Airport covers 6,900 square metres and sits between sand dunes and native vegetation. It is located 28 km north of Central Salvador, and the road leading to the airport has become one of the city's main scenic routes.

Salvador Air Force Base - BASV, a base of the Brazilian Air Force, is also located in Salvador.

Port

Main article: Port of Salvador

The Port of Salvador is found in the Bahia de Todos os Santos. As the economy of the state grows, the port handles more cargo each year. It is the busiest port for containers in the North and Northeast regions and the second biggest exporter of fruit in Brazil.

Metro

Main article: Salvador Metro

The Salvador Metro System began operating in 2014. The first part of the system ran between Lapa and Acesso Norte stations and was later extended to include more stations up to Pirajá. Together, these parts make up Line 1. By 2018, the system covered 32 km and had 20 stations, connecting with the bus network.

The main investors in Metro Salvador are Spanish companies Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, Dimetronic, and ICF. Plans include investing US$150 million in new trains, signals, and communication equipment. This investment covers the first 11.9 km of the line from Pirajá to Lapa, which was originally set to open in 2003. Funding also comes from a US$150 million loan from the World Bank and contributions from the federal, Bahia state, and Salvador city governments.

The metro system was created to improve travel in the city before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Line 2 will connect with Line 1 to link Magalhães International Airport to Downtown Salvador and the Fonte Nova Stadium. Line 2 will also connect to Rótula do Abacaxi and the nearby beach city of Lauro de Freitas.

Monorail

The two-line SkyRail Bahia monorail network is planned to open in 2022.

Highways

The BR-101 and BR-116 federal highways run through Bahia from north to south, linking Salvador to the rest of the country. At the Feira de Santana junction, you can take the BR-324 state highway. The city is served by many coach companies from across Brazil. BR-242, starting at São Roque do Paraguaçu, connects to BR-116 toward the middle-western region. Important state highways include BA-099, which connects to the north coast, and BA-001, linking to the south of Bahia. Buses travel to most major cities in Brazil, such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília, as well as nearby places. In 2007, Salvador had 586,951 vehicles, the most in Northern and Northeastern Brazil. The city has 2,500 public buses, carrying 2 million people each day.

The main bus station is in Iguatemi, offering direct buses to big cities and many places in the state. The second floor has counters for different bus companies, while the first floor includes a small supermarket and a place to store luggage overnight. Across the street is a large shopping center called Iguatemi, with a food court connected by a pedestrian crossing.

Four paved highways connect the city to the national highway system. Heading north from the Farol (lighthouse) de Itapoã are many kilometres of beaches. These beaches can be reached using the BA-099 highway or the Line of Coconut and Green Line, a toll road kept in great condition. This road runs alongside dunes with white sand and a coast lined with coconut palms. The coastal communities vary from fishing villages to Praia do Forte.

Further information: Ladeira da Preguiça

Public transportation statistics

People in Salvador typically spend about 94 minutes each weekday using public transport, such as going to or from work. About 33% of riders spend more than two hours each day on public transport. The average waiting time at a stop or station is 33 minutes, and 70% of riders wait over 20 minutes each day. On average, people travel about 8 km in one trip using public transport, and 18% of trips are longer than 12 km.

Neighborhoods

Although Salvador was planned by the Kingdom of Portugal, its growth happened in a natural way over time. The city spread beyond its original walls, and today it has many neighborhoods. For organizing the city, there are 17 zones, but the neighborhoods themselves are still very important.

Salvador has many different neighborhoods in three main areas: West, South, and East. Some well-known areas in the West Zone include Pelourinho, Comércio, and the Old Downtown. In the South Zone, you can find Barra with its beaches, Vitória with tall buildings, and Campo Grande with important squares. The East Zone has richer neighborhoods like Itaigara and Pituba. The Northwest area, called Cidade Baixa, includes neighborhoods like Periperi with a large Afro-Brazilian community.

Pelourinho

Main article: Historic Center (Salvador)

The Historic Center of Salvador became a World Heritage Site in 1985. It shows beautiful Portuguese city planning from the 1500s, with old streets and colorful houses.

Pelourinho has many important old buildings like palaces, churches, and convents. Some famous spots include the Cathedral of Salvador, the Convent and Church of São Francisco, and the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. The Mercado Modelo and the Lacerda Elevator are also popular places to visit.

Sports

Salvador is a place where people enjoy many different sports. The city is famous for football, with two big teams: Esporte Clube Bahia and Esporte Clube Vitória. Bahia has won important prizes, such as the Taça Brasil in 1959 and the Brazilian League in 1988.

Other sports are also popular in Salvador. Volleyball has grown a lot, especially since Brazil won a gold medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics. There are also beach volleyball events and tournaments. Basketball is enjoyed by many students, with courts available in places like Bahia Sol square. Sailing and rowing are popular too, with many events and races happening in the city's waters.

Consular representations

Some countries have offices in Salvador da Bahia to help their citizens. These include:

• Argentina (Consulate)
• Portugal (Consulate-General)
• Spain (Consulate-General)

International relations

Salvador has special partnerships with cities around the world, called twin towns and sister cities.

Notable people

Salvador, Bahia, has been home to many famous people who have achieved great things in sports, music, acting, and more. Some well-known names include Acelino Freitas and Robson Conceição, both celebrated boxers, as well as Tony Kanaan, a famous race car driver. The city has also produced talented musicians like Carlinhos Brown and Daniela Mercury, and actors such as Wagner Moura.