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 The
city of Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia and was also Brazil's
capital until 1763. It is divided into two parts. The Lower City
is at sea level and contains the old port and the commercial district where
visitors will find a compolete and varied assortment of Brazilian
arts and crafts at the Mercado Modelo.
A familiar sight at the Mercado Modelo is the "baiana", usually an older woman dressed in the traditional white, pleated dresses of colonial Bahia who sells coconut sweets and spicy “vatapás”, “acarajés” and “xinxins” from a tray that she carries to the market on head.
Salvador is located 1,058 miles from Rio de Janeiro, 1,225 miles from São Paulo and 1,304 mile front Brasília. It is easily accessible by car or by plane (a two-hour flight from Rio). International flights from Europe and the United States also make regular stops in Salvador.
Itaparica - There
Itaparica Island is a paradise located only 40 minutes from Salvador by
ferryboats there are several fine hotels with a wide selection of
tours and activities as well as deserted beaches with palm trees and calm
waters.
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The
“Lower City” is also the best place to witness a demonstration of
“capoeira”, a martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil, originally
as a form of combat and later as a type of dance and folklore tradition.
Practitioners compete to the rhythm of the “berimbaus”, a local percussion
instrument made with a cord stretched tight across a wooden bow.
The 'Upper City' can the reached by stone steps, alleyways or the
famous Lacerda Elevator. This part of the city contains the old government
buildings, the residential districts, museums, churches and much of the
newer architecture.
Churches
- Salvador is said to have 365 churches, one for each day of the
year. That is something of an exaggeration, but the number and variety
of churches in the city is truly amazing. All of them are impressive
and historically significant, and each one is distinctly different from
the others. A few of the most important are the Convent of Saint
Francis of Assisi with its sumptuous altar covered in gold leaf dating
from 1581, Our Lord of Bonfim Church, Aflitos Church and Our Lady of Rosário
Church (both 17th century), Boqueirão Church, the Basilica Cathedral,
Lapa Church, Boa Viagem Church, Conceição da Praia Church,
Desterro Convent and Graça Church (1577).