Salvador

Salvador is a coastal municipality in Bahia, Brazil, located on a peninsula between the Bay of All Saints and the Atlantic Ocean. The city divides into an upper and a lower section, separated by steep slopes.

The city was established in the 16th century as Brazil's first capital and remained the administrative center of the Portuguese colony for over two centuries. The harbor developed into one of the main hubs for Atlantic trade.

Street musicians and drumming groups often perform in the old town squares, where capoeira circles take place in the open air. Women in traditional dress sell acarajé and other local dishes on street corners.

An elevator connects the upper and lower parts of the city, making it easier to move between the two levels. The narrow cobblestone streets in the historic center are best explored on foot.

During carnival, parades move through the streets with musicians playing on moving trucks while thousands of people dance behind them. This celebration lasts several days and brings a wide variety of rhythms and dances to the streets.

Location: Bahia

Inception: 1549

Elevation above the sea: 8 m

Part of: Greater Salvador, Immediate Geographic Region of Salvador, Merco Cities Network

Shares border with: Lauro de Freitas, Simões Filho, Saubara, Candeias, Itaparica, Madre de Deus, Salinas da Margarida, São Francisco do Conde, Vera Cruz

Website: https://salvador.ba.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -12.98306,-38.49278

Latest update: December 3, 2025 18:44