The state of Bahia occupies 216,612 sq mi (559,921 sq km) at the southern end of Brazil's northeastern region. Most visitors go to Bahia for the capital city of Salvador, sometimes also called Bahia, and the neighboring beach communities.
Bahia is where Brazil began. It was here that Portuguese explorers in 1549 founded a settlement on the peninsula in Todos os Santos Bay, discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in 1501. It was here that slaves from Africa disembarked and brought their culture to the new world. It was here the Portuguese, African and indigenous cultures met, melded and produced the vibrant music, food, customs and religion typical of Bahia.
Once called São Salvador, Salvador became the shipping point for the sugar grown on plantations in the Recôncavo, the fertile lands surrounding the bay. Tobacco and hardwoods added to the growing city's wealth and position. It became the capital of Portuguese America until 1763, in spite of a year of Dutch occupation in 1624-1625. The fortifications along the water stem from the colonial period.
In the nineteenth century, Bahia was the center of the Brazilian independence movement that abolished slavery and dethroned the Portuguese emperor. The Republic of Brazil was then formed, and after civil and political dissent, Salvador was bombarded and damaged by federal forces. Salvador rebuilt, creating over time two universities, the naval base and the cable cars connecting the upper and lower parts of the city. The port now handles the exportation of industrial diamonds, oil, aluminum, and metallurgy and woodworking are two of the leading industries.
But more than its economic importance, Salvador is known for its folkloric and cultural heritage. Visitors flock to the city for carnaval when pulsating rhythms of the trios electricos resound night and day. They come also to observe the Candomble religion.
There's much more to Salvador than this and baianos are glad to show off their both parts of their city. Alta cidade is the older portion of the city, where colonial buildings and quaint streets take you back to a previous time. The Pelourinho neighborhood, with pastel colored buildings, is considered the most charming. It's also the center of Salvador's nighlife, with restaurants, bars and folkoric shows. A walking tour is well worth the time. Not far from this neighborhood is an elevator connecting the high city to the Cidade Baixa, the newer portion of Salvador.
Salvador is also known for its beaches, strung in a strip of long sandy shoreline. Barra is the closest to the center of town, but you'll want to try Itapoán and Piatã, considered the best beaches. You can also take the ferry to Itaparica, where Club Med has the best beach. It's worth the trip, if you can ignore the saltworks and oil fields, to try the seafood restaurants.
Don't miss an overnight trip to Cachoeira in the midst of Bahia's tobacco growing fields. This small city retains much of its colonial heritage and is built on the Rio Paraguaçu.
South of Salvador, Porto Seguro is wildly popular with Brazilians and international visitors. They come for the coastal beaches protected by a reef, so the waters are safe and shallow. There is also a Cidade Alta, with wonderful old churches. Nearby is the Reserva Biológica de Pau Brazil, a nature reserve preserving the brazil nut tree. Arraial d'Ajuda was known as a free and easy town, but no longer. Trancoso with superb beaches and colorful colonial buildings is a better choice. For really primitive conditions, try Caraiva.
Going north from Salvador along the Rodovia de Coco, the Coconut Highway, is the beach community of Praia do Forte, which is being developed into an upscale resort area taking advantage of the good beaches. You can visit the Tartaruga Marinha (TAMAR) where several species of marine turtles are protected. Morro de Sã Paulo and Ilhéus have wonderful beaches. Ilhéus, on Ilhéus Bay, is the cacao center of Brazil and also exports rubber, timber, chemicals, and piassava. It was also the home of Jorge Amado, the most widely read Brazilian novelist who is celebrated for his portrayal of ordinary Brazilians.
Inland from Todos os Santos Bay, 25 mi (40 km) long and 20 mi (32 km) wide, past the fertile lowlands growing sugarcane, cotton, tobacco and subsistence crops, are the cattle-breeding and marketing centers for beef, manioc, beans, corn and other products. Feira de Santana , Vitoria da Conquista, Itabuna, and Jiquié are the major cities of interior Bahia.
You wont go wrong visiting Bahia! Bem vindo!