Greater Salvador, Metropolitan region in Salvador, Brazil
Greater Salvador extends along the Atlantic coast in Bahia state and includes thirteen municipalities that together form the largest urban area in northeastern Brazil. The region sits around the Bay of All Saints and connects coastal cities with industrial zones and residential areas inland.
Portugal founded the first capital of Brazil here in 1549, which later became a center for sugar trade and the transatlantic slave trade. After World War II the area grew beyond the historic core city and attracted factories and new residents during the 1970s.
Neighborhoods around the Bay of All Saints celebrate Candomblé ceremonies and public festivals with African rhythms throughout the year. Markets sell acarajé and cassava products while street musicians perform samba-reggae and afoxé melodies.
Buses and metro lines connect most municipalities while ferries run between coastal towns across the bay. Timetables and ticket machines are available at major stops and stations throughout the metropolitan area.
The Aratu Industrial Complex was Brazil's first planned industrial park and began in the 1960s with petrochemical plants and steel mills. Today factories still stand alongside worker neighborhoods built in the early years of the project.
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