The Brazilian city of Salvador da Bahia reflects the essence of this country’s rich history and culture. There’s much more to this city than tropical beaches: Salvador da Bahia has managed to conserve a unique cultural and architectural legacy, centred in the area known as Pelourinho, the colourful historic quarter declared a World Heritage Site.
With its steep cobbled streets, low rise buildings with colonial-style façades and picturesque churches – including the cathedral – the entire district is a living museum of Portuguese Baroque architecture and a reminder of its former colonial status that can still be seen today.
The colourful façades immediately catch your eye, and in particular the soft blue of the Casa de Jorge Amado Foundation or the soothing cream tones of the City Museum, both of which stand on the sloping street known asLargo do Pelourinho. On this same stretch, visitors’ gaze will also be drawn to the blue towers of the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos, which was built by slaves and free blacks, architects of the syncretism between the Candomblé and Catholic religions.
Affectionately known as El Pelô by locals, this is a relatively small district that can easily be toured on foot in the space of an hour.
Terreiro de Jesús is now connected with Plaça da Sé. It boasts a number of sites of interest, including the monument in honour of Zumbi dos Palmares, one of the heroes of black resistance to slavery, who managed to escape and found the Quilombo dos Palmares. Quilombo was the name given to the villages set up by slaves who fled from theFazendas, and which were concealed by dense vegetation.
Also not to be missed is the Lacerda Elevator (Brazil’s highest public elevator) which descends 72 metres, stopping opposite the Modelo Market, in the district known as Cidade Baixa – the lower part of the city. On our tour of the city we will see a good number of churches; you could almost say that there’s one on every corner, yet the most impressive is undoubtedly the Church and Convent of São Francisco.
Throughout the area you can sense the happy, fun-loving and even creative nature of its inhabitants, who express their emotions through musical rhythms such as the samba, martial arts, religious rituals and celebrations that are renowned around the world. This district is the birthplace and home of well-known artists, writers, poets and musicians inspired by the magic of its streets; the same magic that is sensed by the tourists who delve delightedly into one of the most authentic sides to Brazil.
“IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has 2 5 star All Inclusive holiday complexes in Salvador da Bahia: theIBEROSTAR Praia Do Forte and the IBEROSTAR Bahía. Both hotels offer visitors the perfect holiday experience in Brazil, set against a stunning natural backdrop.”
from PassportTo.com
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