Salvador da Bahia

★★★ Salvador — The African Heart of Brazil

Salvador da Bahia is the cultural soul of Brazil — the city where the Afro-Brazilian identity pulses most strongly. As Brazil's first capital (1549–1763) and the largest slave port in the New World, Salvador has a unique heritage: Capoeira, Candomblé, Axé music, Acarajé, and a joie de vivre that even outshines Rio.

80% of Salvador's inhabitants are of Afro-Brazilian descent — the city feels culturally closer to Lagos or Luanda than to São Paulo. This is reflected in the cuisine (West African influences with coconut milk, palm oil, and okra), the music (Axé, Olodum drums, Samba de Roda), and the religion (Candomblé, a syncretic religion with African Orixás and Catholic saints).

★★★ Pelourinho (Centro Histórico)

The UNESCO World Heritage Pelourinho is a colorful labyrinth of colonial buildings from the 17th–19th centuries: pastel façades, baroque churches, cobblestone streets, and squares where Capoeira circles and drum groups dominate the street scene. The name "Pelourinho" (pillory) recalls the dark history: This is where slaves were publicly punished.

• Igreja e Convento de São Francisco: The "Golden Church" — completely covered in gold leaf inside. One of the most magnificent baroque buildings in the Americas. Entrance 8 BRL.
• Fundação Casa de Jorge Amado: Museum about Bahia's most famous writer, whose novels (Gabriela, Dona Flor) made Salvador's culture known worldwide.
• Tuesday Night (Terça da Bênção): Every Tuesday, a huge street party with live music, Olodum drums, and Samba takes place in Pelourinho. Don't miss it!

★★ Elevador Lacerda

The iconic elevator (1873) connects the upper and lower city over 72 meters of height. The ride takes 30 seconds, costs almost nothing (0.15 BRL!), and offers a spectacular view over the All Saints Bay (Baía de Todos os Santos). In the lower city lies the Mercado Modelo — a touristy but worth-seeing market in a former customs house.

Experience Capoeira

Capoeira — the dance-like martial art developed by enslaved Africans in the 16th century in Bahia — is ubiquitous in Salvador. In Pelourinho, Rodas (circles) take place daily, where masters and students fight/dance to the rhythm of the Berimbau. Introductory courses for tourists are available at many academies (from 50 BRL/hour).