Ribeira beach, Beach in Ribeira, Salvador, Brazil

Ribeira Beach, also called Praia da Penha, lies in Salvador's Cidade Baixa on the Baía de Todos os Santos, about thirteen kilometres south of the city centre. The beach faces the bay's islands and the old mansions of the Ribeira neighbourhood, and the Rua da Penha separates it from the Archbishop's Summer Palace and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha.

The Ribeira inlet began as a fishing colony, its calm waters sheltering boats; its name means "anchorage for repairing ships". In the early 20th century the area became a sought-after summer resort, and the inlet served as a hydroport receiving the first aircraft bound for Salvador. The old passenger station of that hydroport is now a seafront restaurant.

The name Ribeira means "anchorage for repairing ships", recalling the fishing colony that used the sheltered bay. In front of the beach, across Rua da Penha, stand the Archbishop's Summer Palace and the Church of Nossa Senhora da Penha; the surrounding area is now a nightlife centre with bars and restaurants serving regional Bahian cooking.

The beach lies in the Cidade Baixa, about 13 km south of Salvador's centre, on the Baía de Todos os Santos. The Rua da Penha separates the sand from the Archbishop's Summer Palace and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Penha. The sheltered cove is used for rowing, sailing and canoeing training and competitions.

The bay in front of the beach holds Brazil's oldest rowing course, and the calm water is still used for rowing training and competitions as well as sailing and canoeing events. In the early 20th century the same inlet served as a hydroport for the first aircraft arriving in Salvador.