Bahia Attractions

Bahia State

Bahia lies half way down the east coast of Brazil. It is traversed by the Rio São Francisco, which enters Bahia from the neighboring state of Minas Gerais to the south, and in the north-west forms a natural boundary between Bahia and Pernambuco. As a result of the rich deposits of sediment brought down by rivers the coast of Bahia is largely flat and silted up. Only the Baía de Todos os Santos has a good natural harbor, and this favored the development of Salvador, which from 1549 to 1763 was the capital of Brazil. The state's economy depends mainly on the growing of coffee, cacao, sugar-cane and cotton; more recently oil has also made a contribution.

Afro-Brazilian culture has survived most vigorously in Bahia, particularly in the coastal region round Salvador. Its origins go back to the negro slaves who worked on the plantations here into the late 19th century and evolved a very distinctive syncretism of African tribal religions and a Catholicism of Iberian stamp. Afro-Brazilian cults still play an important part in the life of the people.