SALVADOR DA BAHIA

MODERN SALVADOR
Wealth in its colonial architecture, Salvador also developed its futurist face by means of postmodern constructions, dared lines, surprising cuttings, balance in shapes and colors, what has much fascinated the tourists. Buildings on Antonio Carlos Magalhães and Tancredo Neves Valley Avenue already appear on the Postcards of Salvador. The Convention Center sited at Armação beach, is another example of modern building, also shown is the Casa do Comercio building, at Iguatemi, with its suspended floors and its borders of flowers. We also must visit the Thomé de Souza Palace where the City Hall is installed in the Historical Complex, which shows the contrast between two periods. Buildings that give an idea of modernity in the services and purchasing options are the comfortable Shopping Centers.

CHURCHES, FORTS, MUSEUMS
The most beautiful church in Salvador is the São Francisco Church, with its walls and altars decorated with pure gold. The most famous is Nosso Senhor do Bomfim, protector of the city, whose temple is located on the Sacred Hill in the lower city. Salvador has a total of more than 300 churches, each one telling one chapter of the Bahian religious history. All over the city are found fortifications raised mainly by the Portuguese, but also by Spanish and Dutch. The most beautiful and curious is the São Marcelo Fort, in shape of a circle, sited on a small island in the entrance of the port of Salvador. It was build in the 17th century. These historical monuments make beautiful postcards, as well as the Santo Antonio da Barra Fort with a lighthouse, the Santa Maria Fort at Porto da Barra, the Monte Serrat Fort at the lower City and the São Pedro Fort downtown. Supports for past combats, they assured peace for Bahia and left us significant colonial architecture. Bahia history relics are guarded and shown in dozens of important museums in the Capital like for example the Museu de Arte Sacra and the Carlos Costa Pinto Museum, also Solar do Unhão where one can find the Museum of Modern Art. A building constructed in the 17th century as a farmhouse with chapel and slaves quarters.

BEACHES
Whoever appreciates sun bathing or nautical sports practice finds in Salvador the right beach among tenths options along Baía de Todos os Santos and offshore. Ribeira is the most visited beach in the Baía, but there are many other options, as for example, Porto da Barra beach, where the youngs get together, Inema and Cabuçu. The offshore beaches stretch along almost 50 km towards the North, full of coconut trees and rounded with huts wich serve coconut juice, drinks and typical foods. Sunbathing on this fine and white sand assures a nice sunburning from Farol da Barra through Stella Maris beaches and beyond Farol de Itapuã. This area is called the Windsurf Paradise. Other options are the Corsario, Artist's, Piatã, Patamares, Jaguaribe and Plakafor beaches. All of them keep an infra-structure to offer comfort and safety. A rescue service is present as well as showers and standardized huts selling sea foods and drinks.

THE ISLANDS
In the Baía de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay) there are almost 50 islands of all sizes. The largest and most important one is Itaparica with tourists infrastructure, wonderful beaches, mineral waters and a tropical paradise scene. The most visited beaches on this island are Mar Grande, Cacha-Pregos, Gameleira, Berlinque and Itaparica. Itaparica ist the ideal place for people who love sun, sea, jet-ski, windsurfing and diving. Other islands worth visiting are Ilha dos Frades the most beautiful, Madre Deus where one can see a 17th century small church, Ilha do Medo transformed into an ecologic place, Ilha de Maré, excellent for scuba diving and where one can find the famous hand woven lace. On those islands there is no infrastructure, which makes the visitor get in touch with the most pure that nature can offer.

NIGHT LIFE
Full of mystery and fascination, the nightlife offers options to enjoy for any kind of visitor. The night might start in a typical restaurant situated all along the beaches. Folkloric shows can be visited or maybe one would like to take part in a Candomblè. Along the seashore there are lots of bars and nightclubs assuring a relaxing and joyful atmosphere for all tastes.

ACCOMODATION
Salvador offers accomodations for all kinds of visitors, for those who require sophistication and for those who are engaged in an adventure trip. There are many lodges, inns, apart-hotels, apartments for temporary rent, besides the 3-, 4- or 5-star hotels. Most of the located along teh seashore. There are other nice hotels downtown, like for example the Tropical Hotel da Bahia, located on the Campo Grande square. If you would like to live a dream of a phantasy island, you can go to the Club Mediteraneé Hotel on Itaparica Island.

BAHIAN CULTURE
Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, João Gilberto, Gal Costa, Maria Betânia e Margareth Menezes. In literature, the internationally known Jorge Amado and João Ubaldo Ribeiro and our so celebrated Castro Alves, the poet of the slaves. Rui Barbosa the most eminent jurist. Outstanding artists as Calazans Neto, Mario Cravo, Carlos Bastos and Floriano Teixeira gave national projection to Salvador. Its popular culture finds a large place for expansion at the Historical Center, where Olodum (afro-brazilian dance and music group) is established. They reached international success when recording a song with the singer Paul Simon. But there is more. Afoxé Filhos de Ghandi with their religious faith during carnival, Ilê Aiyê dancing yard shaking the nights at Largo do Santo Antonio. Creativity flows through the rythms blending resulting in exclusive creations like deboche, fricote and samba-reggae.

PEOPLE
The Baiano is a result of a mixture of all kinds of races. Salvador has about 2 million inhabitants and the negro or mulato ar predominant. That's why it's told, that Salvador is the largest african City outside of Africa. But the main ancestrals heritage is the cultural richness led to the folklore, religion, cuisine and to peoples very special way of beiing. The principal characteristics are their easygoing nature, joy and hospitality.

RELIGION
Salvador is characterized by religiousness and mysticism. Here were founded the fist Jewish temple and the first Mussulman temple, but the blending between candomblè and catholic religion is outstanding. Each Orixá (nature god) has a corresponding Saint in the Catholic Church. Each inhabitant in Salvador knows which Orixá protects him, its the so called Saint of the Head. This religious conscience guides him through the day telling him what clothes to put on or which food should be eaten or not. The african religious traditions where brought to Salvador by the uncountable slaves arriving. Very interesting is visiting a Candomblè house and to get to know the numerous dances of Oxum, Iemanjá, Ogum, Iansã, Oxossi, Xangô and many more.

CUISINE
Colours, smells, aspects, ingredients, everything conspires to involve and make the tourist enjoy the Bahian cuisine. The dendê plant oil is the basic component of most dishes. It gives a special and unique characteristic to the local dishes. Moqueca, vatapá and caruru are very typical for Bahia. Moqueca is prepared with a great variety of sea food. Caruru is prepared with the vegetable quiabo, chestnuts, peanuts and dried shrimp. Everything really delicious. But acarajé, the so called bahian sandwich occupies an outstanding position. It is a small roll prepared with white beans, fried dendê, cut into two parts and filled with shrimp, caruru and salad.