The Brazilian state of Bahia is located on the Atlantic coast of Brazil in equatorial climes with it's attendent heat and humidity. It's average annual temperature is 25 º C or 76 º F. The state's long coast is known variously as the "Coast of Whales", the "Coconut Palm Coast", the "Oil Palm Coasst", the "Cocoa Coast" and the "Coast of Discovery".

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

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Photos courtesy of TPOChile.com / Juan Harrington - Film and Commercial Production Services

The state capital, Salvador, is a colonial jewel which, from 1549 through 1763, served as Brazil's first colonial capital, settled in large part by African slaves whose descendents now form up to about 80% of the current population. It lies on All Saints Bay (Bahia de Todos os Santos), Brazil's largest, encompassing some 400 islands with the best snorkeling and diving sites in the country, many of which are shipwreck sites teeming with aquatic life.

Salvador, also known as the "City of Joy", abounds with expressions of art, music & dance and other aspects and manifestations of the Afro-Brazilian culture. It is the place to enjoy the movements of Capoeira - which looks akin to a rhythmic and ballet-like precision form of kick-boxing - and the rhythm of the Berimbau, a one-stringed, bow-like instrument which uses a gourd and the player's belly as it's sound chamber

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Salvador has a proud heritage and a wealth of colonial architecture, churches and museums to explore. In 1985, Salvador Historical center was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage site list. Here are some of Salvador's most interesting sites to visit:

Lacerda Elevator - This tower with four electric lifts provides access between the High and Low areas of town (Cidade Baixa and Cidade Alta) and fabulous panoramic views of Salvador from it's top. It is 74 meters in height.

Rio Branco Palace - This elaborate and imposing government palace holds a number of art works.

The Archbishop's Palace dates from the early 18th C. and housed Brazil‘s Archbishop, with a beautiful and elaborate baroque-style frontispiece.

Afro-Brazilian Museum, Pelourinho – Features permanent exhibitions of African and Afro-Brazilian arts and crafts, relics, historical documents and artifacts related to the Afro-Brazilian culture. Located in the old Faculty of Medicine on Terreiro de Jesus.

Solar do Ferrão - This building currently holds the Artistic and Cultural Heritage Institute of Bahia and the Abelardo Rodrigues Museum with its collection of religious relics.

Casa de Jorge Amado - this foundation showcases life and works of Jorge Amado, Bahia's best known author. Location: Largo do Pelourinho 51, Pelourinho. Free admission.

Museu da Cidade - features artifacts, art, furniture, sculpture, documents and photos showcasing the history and culture of the city as it grew through history. Address: Largo do Pelourinho No. 3

Mercado Modelo – Great market housed in the location of what was the customs building and slave warehouse which was racked by fire in both 1969 and 1983. Rebuilt in its original 19th C. style, it offers trade goods, arts and crafts, tourist mementos and souvenirs of the area, restaurants and bars. Locataed at Praça Cayru, near the Lacerda elevator, Cidade Baixa

Solar do Unhão - Waterfront complex built in the 17th C as residence for the Chief Justice, Pedro do Unhão Castelo Branco. Features courtyard, aqueduct and fountain, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, pier and sugar mill. The main building was restored to hold Bahia's Museum of Modern Art.

Museum Carlos Costa Pinto – Features a collection by Carlos Costa Pinto of goods, furniture, silverware and traditional articles from the city's founding families. The Museum is housed in Costa Pinto family mansion.

Porto da Barra, Pereira's Villa – Port area which was the only area in which small craft could land safely without being pounded against surrounding reefs. Fort Santa Maria and Fort São Diogo at the entrance to the port, protected it from invaders.

Santo Antônio Além do Carmo Fort - Built as protection for the northern access to the city in the latter part of the 17th C.

São Marcelo Fort, or Fort of the Sea – Round fort built in the harbor in the 1600's by Felipe Guiton, it was called the "Bellybutton of Bahia” by Jorge Amado.

Fort of Santo Antônio da Barra – The city's first fort constructed to protect the entrance to Todos os Santos Bay. The irregular 10-sided polygon held Bahia's first lighthouse (wooden) which was replaced in 1836 and is currently run by electricity. The fort offers a restaurant/bar and Nautical Museum.

Nossa Senhora de Mont Serrat Fort – Considered the most beautiful and harmoniously built military construction of Brazil, the fort hold a weapons museum and also offers theatrical simulations of the conquest and re-conquest of 1624.

Churches, Convents and other Religious Sites

Catedral Basilica - located on Terreiro de Jesus in Pelourinho, this is a beautiful and ornate building begun by the Jesuits in 1672. The wooden sculpture of Christ the Savior is the largest wooden image in Brazil. Baroque chamber music concerts are held here at 11 am every Sunday.

Igreja de São Francisco - Located at Praça Ancieta, off Terreiro de Jesus. It's incredibly and impressively ornate and baroque interior is resplendent in gold plating and a tremendous sight to see. Right next door is the sandstone facade of the Ordem Terceira de São Francisco church featuring lovely blue tile work inside and its hall of saints.

Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos Church in Pelourinho, built in the 1700's. Notable for tiled pillars and pictures.

Nossa Senhora do Carmo Convent and Church - Church and two-cloister convent dating from the 17th century, and Carmo‘s Sacred Art Museum.

Santíssimo Sacramento Church - dating from the early 1700's, it features Portuguese tile work and neoclassical carvings.

Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia, Cidade Baixa – Construction of this temple began in 1736. The nave features a masterpiece by José Joaquim da Rocha painted in 1772/73.

Santo Antônio da Barra Church – Built from 1595 to 1600, this church sits atop a hill with a view over the Barra area and bay. Its frontispiece features tilework.

Church and Abbey of Nossa Senhora da Graça, Barra – The original chapel built in 1535 by order of Catarina Álvares “Paraguaçú”, native wife of Diogo Álvares "Caramuru", a French castaway who became an important liaison between the natives and European navigators and merchants, is reputedly Salvador's oldest church, although the Nossa Senhora da Vitória Church also vies for this title. The abbey and current church were erected in the 1600's by the Benedictines.

Nosso Senhor do Bonfim Church – Constructed in the mid-1700's. Processions take place every year on the second Thursday, winding between the Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia Church and the Bonfim Church, in which baianas, dressed in typical dress and carrying white pots of flowers and water,wash the churchyard and stairways while singing hymns and greetings. The church has a particular reputation for granting miracles - check out the Room of Miracles toward the back. Outside, children sell ribbons or fitas which are to be tied around the wrist for good luck.

Mont Serrat Church and Monastery – a 16th C. church and 17th C monastery constructed on a rock jutting into the sea at the extremity of the Itapagipe Peninsula.

Bom Jesus dos Navegantes Boat Procession – On the first of every year boats gather at and form a maritime procession from the wharf in front of the Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Praia Church to the Boa Viagem Church, carrying an image of the Bom Jesus.

Shipwreck Dive Sites:

Cavo Artemidi wreck - This Greek cargo ship, about 525 feet in length, was carrying iron ore when it sank in 1982 outside the mouth of the bay. It is largely intact and lies at depths of between 30 and 100 feet with generally excellent visibility.

Wrecks of the Banco da Panela - It is believed that over 90 ships were sunk in one night of battle between Dutch and Portuguese colonists in the 17th C. at this site right at the mouth of the bay, making for an excellent dive area at depths of from 16 to 60 feet.