Salvador – The Capital Of Brazil's Bahia State

Bahia is the fourth most populous and the fifth-largest of the 26 states of Brazil. It is located in the northeast part of the country. Bahia is irregularly-shaped and therefore shares boundaries with many other states including Alagoas, Pernambuco, Piauí, Sergipe, Tocantins, Goiás, Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo. The state is known for its high crime level, hosting four of the most violent cities in the country. The capital of Bahia state is São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos locally known as Salvador. The city's population of 2.9 million people makes it the largest metropolitan in the northeast and the fourth largest in the country.

Salvador, The Capital Of Bahia

Salvador was founded in 1549 by the Portuguese to serve as the first capital city of Brazil. It is among the oldest colonial cities in South America. The lower town of the city is divided from the upper town by a 279ft escarpment that requires an elevator to move people between the towns. The city was one of the earliest slave ports in the Americas making it a center of Afro-Brazilian culture. Salvador is the economic hub of the agriculturally productive region of Recôncavo, a maritime and industrial district, and a major port.

Demographics Of Salvador

Salvador is inhabited by 2.9 million people. The city's population is a result of hundreds of years of interracial marriage between Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans. A DNA study conducted in 2015 revealed that it was 50.5% African, making it the most African city outside the African continent. Brazil is a Christian dominated country, and so is the city as Catholics account for 51.55% while the Protestants account for 19.59%. However, secularism is gaining popularity with 17.6% of the population not relating to any religion.

The Economy Of Salvador

The city has played an important economic role throughout the country's history. It served as the country’s gateway during the colonial era and allowed the Portuguese to establish commercial ties with Asia and Africa. It was also the country's capital until Rio de Janeiro replaced it in 1763. The modern city is different from ancient town but not to mean that ancient architecture was destroyed. Some new commercial building share blocks with colonial-era housing. Improved infrastructure such as the airport and the harbor has seen the growth of industries including the construction of an oil refinery. Salvador is among the most visited cities in the country alongside Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.