Enjoying Salvador Vacations in Bahia, Brazil

The city of Salvador bears the full name of São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos, translated to the ‘Holy Savior of All Saints’ Bay.’ It is the capital of the state of Bahia and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, located in its northeast coast. Tourists enjoying their Salvador vacations will come to know the city as a center for music, architecture, and culture. The city is also known for its friendly and accommodating residents, most of them of Black African ancestry. There are also numerous Salvador attractions to choose from which would leave any tourist yearning to come back year after year.

Salvador Vacations at the Pelourinho

Its most popular area would also be its oldest, the Pelourinho or its Historic Centre. This area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is also a prominent itinerary for any Salvador vacations. The name of the area was derived from a Portuguese world designating a whipping post, where African slaves were whipped during the Colonial times. The Pelourinho is probably the most famous area of all Salvador attractions, containing not only old buildings but also historically significant monuments.

The ancient structures in the area were constructed during the Colonial times and some are even older. Those enjoying their Salvador vacations should take the time to visit the opulent San Francisco church, which has interiors literally coated with gold, and contrast it with the modest Rosary of the Blacks church which was built and dedicated for slave use. Modern Salvador attractions in the area would include the bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops lining the streets of this historical area.

Museum Visits During Salvador Vacations

Owing to its rich cultural heritage, the city has numerous museums that will surely attract persons wishing to enjoy their Salvador vacations to the fullest. Of particular importance would the Museu de Arte da Bahia, which is the oldest museum in the state. It contains numerous paintings, antique furniture, and even Chinese porcelain. Most of the items in this museum date back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

Also considered one of Salvador attractions would be the Museu Costa Pinto, which highlights its extensive collection of silver buckles and gold jewelry. Touring the city will also lead visitors to several lesser known though thoroughly unique museums, some of them located within churches and other religious structures such as the São Bento Museums. These museums would definitely contribute toward enriching the cultural experiences of those on their Salvador vacations.

The Carnival and Salvador Vacations

Salvador vacations cannot be truly enjoyed without experiencing the Carnival, considered to be the Guinness World Record as the biggest street party in whole world. If anyone in the planet knows how to party, it would be the Brazilians and among the finest celebrations would be the Salvador Carnival. Those who plan their Salvador vacations often come into the city on or before the Thursday preceding Fat Tuesday, when the festivities officially begin. The Carnival has evolved into one of the most well-known Salvador attractions and one of its highlights would be the Trios Eléctricos, trucks containing loudspeakers and gyrating dancers that lend an overwhelming air of festivity and abandon.

The Carnival is so huge, it is officially divided into three Circuits: the Campo Grande, the Barra-Ondina Circuit, and the Pelourinho Circuit. And just to provide an idea on the prominence of this event, it lasts for a week and has an estimated two million celebrants. It is during this well attended and most popular of all Salvador attractions that residents and tourists alike converge to this South American city to dance, parade, and have a fantastic time among friends and strangers.