With the World ARC fleet now arriving in Brazil for a visit that will last one month, we take a look at what’s waiting for the crews in Salvador, our entry point into Brazil. Salvador, historic name, São Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos (in English, "Holy Savior of All Saints' Bay") is on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of State of Bahia. It is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival.
The coastline is quite diverse, featuring sandy beaches, sea cliffs, mangrove swamps, and a number of islands, the largest of which, Itaparica, includes a resort area.
Salvador was divided into an upper and a lower city. The upper city was the administrative and main religious area and it was where the majority of the population lived. The lower city was the financial center, with a port and market. In the late 19th Century, funiculars and an elevator, the Elevador Lacerda, were built to link the areas.
The historic centre of Salvador was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The city represents a fine example of 16th century urbanism with its higher administrative town and its lower commercial town, and a large portion of the city has retained the old character of its streets and colourful houses.
In 2006, Salvador was the 2nd most visited city by international tourists in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro is the 1st), and with a population estimated at 2,892,625 inhabitants, Salvador is the 3rd most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. With good transport links to the rest of Brazil, the crews will use the opportunity to visit Rio de Janeiro, day sail to some of the remote villages around the bay, and certainly get to know the famous Pelourinho with its maze of cobbled alleys and side streets, each revealing unique experiences.
Content credit: Wikipedia