Other places in Brazil

Bahia Ceara Espirito Santo Estado de Santa Catarina Joao Pessoa Parati Recife Rio de Janerio Rio Grande do Norte

Salvador for Saints and Sinners

From the Daily Mail
Say 'Salvador' and most British people think of El Salvador, civil unrest and James Woods starring in Oliver Stone's disturbing film of that name. Yet, Salvador, Brazil, is a world away from its war torn Central American namesake. Lying in the Tropic of Capricorn south of the Equator, Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia in the North East of Brazil. Now the country's fourth largest city, it was the capital for almost 200 years and a centre for merchants, artists and slave traders.
Almost 500 years ago, on November 1, 1501, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvarez Cabral crossed the Atlantic and arrived in a beautiful and vast natural harbour. In honour of the day, he named it Bahia de Todos los Santos, All Saints' Bay, and so the foundations of the city of Salvador, Bahia, were laid. A city that Brazilians say, 'has all the saints and all the sins'.
In Brazil, Salvador is second only to Rio de Janeiro as a tourist destination. More than half of Salvador's holiday trade is made up of Brazilians. Weary executives from the financial and industrial centres of Brasilia, Rio Grande do Sul and Sao Paulo bring their families north to Bahia.
They are drawn by miles of the most beautiful beaches, historic architecture and superb cuisine. Wealthy young people are attracted by the surf and the nightlife, which is a world away from the self-conscious samba shows of Rio.
Salvador is also seen as markedly safer than Rio. The city is well policed, and local people tut disapprovingly over the latest Rio shooting on TV. However, if you leave your Rolex watch on your beach towel, like a famous French chef did, it will be gone when you return from your swim. Use your common sense, take reasonable precautions and you should be okay.

Read more in our destination guide to Brazil.