Colonial History, Pelourinho

The historical Center of Salvador Bahia is called Pelourinho the Old City . The name came from the chains used to keep the slaves imprisoned in those times. That was the place where the slaves were punished. They worked for the Portuguese in the construction of churches, houses, forts and other buildings. The slaves could not attend the same churches as the whites, so they saved money to build their own temple - Rosary of the Blacks. They would work on it at night . It took around 100 years to be finished. Currently the tourists enjoy the pretty church for visitation. The San Francisco church is the most famous . Its interior is coated with gold, the great Baroque wealth. The Rosary of the Blacks of Salvador is the only church of the Brazilian black people (Rosary of the Blacks). It is in this church that the photos of the Anast‡cia slave can be seen. The African-Brazilian museum is also located in Pelourinho . The area also spots the first university of medicine of south America; where my Grandmother, Dr Maria de Lourdes, got her Degree. There is also the Museum of the City. Former home of the beloved book Jorge Amado, one of the most famous Brazillian writers. Bars, restaurants, jewelry stores, currency exchange stores, giftshops, InterNet cafes, banks, schools of capoeira and percussion instruments, hotels, inns, hostels as well as an African-Brazilian school of dancing and culture are some of the vast alternative places to go for. Every Tuesday evening there is a great Percussion festival in the streets called Olodum Blessing . Three small squares are used as stages by different musical groups. A tour of Pelourinho will make you feel liking gooing back in time, for its arquitecture preserves the style and looks of centuries behind.

Salvador and it's neighborhoods

Splitting the Lower city from the Higher City, it is one of the most well known historical points of the city of Salvador. It was named after Lacerda engineer, who made the first project of the workmanship. Mercado Modelo is a fair inside one of the largest old buildings.It is right across from the Lacerda elevator, at the lower side of the city. The building holds one of the most astonishing fairs of handicrafts in South America aimed at national and international tourism market, with a huge variety of souvenirs. With professionals who dedicate daily to take care of the delicacy and beauty of the souvenirs of the most historical city in Brazil. In the Model Market every one can find all sorts of Art which preserves the culture of Bahia.

Afro-Brazilian Influence

Salvador, Bahia is vigorous City of around 2,600,000 inhabitants, streched along the green tropical hills and the bulcolic beaches along the Bahia de Todos os Santos (Bahia of All Saints). The first capital of Brazil, Salvador was built on two levels, with administration buildings and residences on the hills and forts, docks and warehouses on the beaches. From 1500 to 1815, a significant amount of enslaved Africans, sugar, gold and diamond landed on salvador, where at that time was Brazil's busiest port. Those were prosperous times for the city as well as the whole country.

In Salvador, more than anywhere else in the country, the African influence in the Brazilian culture is readily visible in the religious festivals and ceremonies of Candonblé, which worships the African Gods and Godesses; the spicy dishes with African names such as Acarajé, Vatapá and Moqueca and the capoeira school, where unique African style of ritualistic fighting is taught. Salvador is the center of both traditional and contemporary Afro-Brazilian art and culture, and is famous for its Afro-Brazilian carnival groups - Blocos and Afoxes. Salvador's artistic and religious groups are the foundation of an important social movement in Brazil, teaching visitors on Bahia's African roots.

Outside Salvador, The beaches of Praia do Forte and beyond

The Beaches and islands Inside the city of Salvador have a maritime edge of thirty-six kilometers, starting from Barra beach and up to Stella Maris. The most visited islands are: Morro de São Paulo, Boipeba and Itaparica. Morro de São Paulo is the preferred one which has the beauty of its crystal waters, the options for varied parties, the tranquility and several other alternatives of leisure,such as : scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, surfing and a lot more

Salvador Bahia Brazil