"Salvador - Africa i ..." a Salvador da Bahia Travel Page by MikeAtSea

Everytime I visit Salvador it feels like if I am in Africa. The resemlance of the city to Maputo in Mozambique is so close. It is a bustling, vibrant and beautiful colonial town with many attractions and a different charm to the rest of Brazil. A great destination and a must be on every itinerary when visiting Brazil!

Salvador is Brazil’s colourful and historic centre of Afro-Brazilian culture located on the Todos os Santos Bay. Its division of the city into Upper and Lower City is typically Portuguese-colonial. While the Mercado Modelo caters to visitors in the Lower City, it’s the Upper City that offers a glimpse into Salvador’s early days. A dramatic vertical structure, the Lacerda Pedestrian Elevator, will take you some 70m (230ft) up to the bluff housing the Upper City. Here in the Pelourinho district, the city’s oldest, you can explore the site of the former slave market and pillory, baroque-style churches and colonial architecture.
Also from colonial times is the Lighthouse of Barra, one of about 15 forts dotting the city. Over 1000 terreiros — temples of the widely practiced Candomblé religion — add to Salvador’s flavour. A visit won’t be complete without seeing the amazing capoeira performed, a popular martial art of Afro-Brazilian origin.