You will trace the African roots of Salvador on a city tour which combines the newer, modern section and the older Historical Center of Salvador, the Pelourinho area, so called after the pillory which stood in the main square, in front of the central slave market. Then visit the Afro-Brazilian Museum and trace the West African origins of the city and see the superb wooden, sculpted panels of the orixa`s by Salvador`s most celebrated artist, Carybe. We visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, the famous Black church, built with meager resources over a period of almost 100 years. We look in on artists and sculptors at work and let the senses do the rest as we soak up the feel of this vibrant city. The buildings may be European but the rest is African.

DURATION: 4 hours

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Depart from your hotel for an amazing evening at the Solar do União, an important site of colonial architecture, which had it`s own church, manor house and slaves quarters located in the Contorno Avenue, right on the shore, with the bay`s gentle waves lapping at its foundations. A restaurant is housed in its main mansion and offers the finest local and international cuisine and a folklore show.

The Show is a journey through the mixture of Bahian culture and religous dances. You will be able to watch the manculelê, a stick and sword dance from the cane fields; the dance of the caboclo, an Amerindian-hunting dance; the samba de roda, a spinning, swirling version of this exuberant national dance. And Capoeira, an ancient dance practiced by 18th century Brazilian slaves which their masters saw only as an innocent recreational dance accompanied by berimbau, tambourine and chanting, but therein lies the dichotomy of the dance as underneath the surface lies disciplined martial art. Capoeira is in fact a serious martial art form that takes years of dedicated study to master; however, the music that accompanies it as well as the fluid movements are both captivating and beautiful. Capoeira is a dance of rare physical beauty. It is also violent and very fast, a delicate and astute fight - the highest choreographic expression of a suffering race.

DURATION: From 3 to 5 hours

TOUR DO NOT OPERATE ON SUNDAYS AND TUESDAYS

• Transportation

• Dinner if selected at time of booking

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You will leave Praia do Forte behind to explore the farming hinterland on the western side of the All Saints bay. This is the land of sugar cane plantations, peaceful colonial towns and busy country markets, a day of insights into the life in rural Brazil. You will drive north out of the city and then head westwards, stopping at busy country market town of Santo Amaro. Then continue the drive westwards through rolling hills to Cachoeira, the jewel of the Bahian hinterland nestled in the deep valley of the Paraguacu River. After lunch you will take a walking tour of the town, with an opportunity to browse in some local wood carvers stores. Like Salvador, Candomble plays an integral part in the life of the town, epitomized by the Sisterhood of the Boa Morte, a sorority which traces its origins back to the time of slavery. Then cross to the western bank of the slow moving river and visit the Danemann Cultural Center where you can also see world class cigars being expertly rolled. A journey back in time to the Brazil of yesteryear.

Duration: 8 Hours
Package Includes:

• Transportation
• Guide
• Lunch

Depart from your hotel to the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous Lighthouse, passing the Santa Maria Fortress and Barra Harbour. Barra is also famous for its popular beach. Then continue up a steep hill towards Vitoria, a XIX century neighborhood. You will drive by Campo Grande with its monument to the Bahian independence, the Sao Pedro Fortress, and along the Avenida Sete de Setembro, where the churches of Rosario, Merces and Sao Bento can be seen. At the end of the avenue is Praca Castro Alves, the heart of activity during Carnival in Bahia. You will then arrive at Pelourinho, designated by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site”. You will stroll through the narrow, bustling streets lined with buildings in pastel shades of an age gone by. You will visit Praca da Se, the oldest part of the city, with its old Se church. Then you cross over to Terreiro de Jesus, the main square. Dominating the west end of the square is the 17th-century Catedral Basílica, The sheer size of the church is impressive, particularly compared to so many of the smaller churches in Pelourinho. As amazing as the size is the craftsmanship shown in the interior decoration. Beautifully ornate, the many altars are made from cedar and covered with a thin layer of gold; the high altar alone consists of 18 gold-covered pillars. The image of Christ the Savior above the transept is the largest wood sculpture in Brazil. It, like much of the carving work in the church, was likely the work of trained slaves; look closely at some of the altars and you'll notice symbols of the Candomblé religion such as small fishtails, a tribute to Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Flanking the cathedral is the neoclassical Antiga Faculdade de Medicina, now home to the excellent Afro-Brazilian Museum. Also on the north side of the square is the smaller baroque Igreja São Pedro dos Clerigos. Facing the cathedral at the far end of the terreiro is the Igreja de Ordem Terceiro de São Domingos de Gusmão. On the south side of this church there's a wide cobblestone street with a tall cross in the middle. This is the Praça Anchieta. The saint on the cross is São Francisco de Xavier, patron saint of Salvador. At the far end of this little praça stand two of the most impressive churches in the city. The large two-towered one on the right is the Igreja de São Francisco; the central element is the surrounding Convento de São Francisco. In the afternoon, you will continue to the quiet waters of the Itapagipe where the first holiday residences were built. Fishermen fish from dug out canoes, locals collect shellfish at low tide, and schooners are at anchor, all protected by the famous Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, one of the most important religious sites in the city. Beloved of both Catholics and Candomblé worshipers (who revere their equivalent deity of Oxalá), the hilltop church draws huge crowds who come to pray or ask for miracles. The Washing of the Steps, which takes place on the third Thursday in January, is one of the most colorful religious events of the year. Then continue to Forte Monte Serat, which offers fabulous views of Salvador. And the Monserrat district with its thriving market for local artifacts. Optional stop at mercado modelo, located in the Praca Cairu, nestled between the docks and the foot of the Lacerda Elevator in the Lower City. Originally the city's customs house, today this famous market houses a large number of stalls, which sell the region's rich and varied handicraft. You can find items made of silver, wood, ceramic and lace, as well as the musical instrument called berimbau and dolls colorfully dressed as the native baianas.

• Transportation

• Guide

• Lunch

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Depart from your hotel to the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous Lighthouse, passing the Santa Maria Fortress and Barra Harbou. Then continue up a steep hill towards Vitoria, a XIX century neighborhood. You will drive by Campo Grande with its monument to the Bahian independence, the Sao Pedro Fortress, and along the Avenida Sete de Setembro, where the churches of Rosario, Merces and Sao Bento can be seen. You will then arrive at Pelourinho, designated by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site”. You will visit Praca da Se, the oldest part of the city, with its old Se church. Then on to Terreiro de Jesus, the main square. Dominating the west end of the square is the 17th -century Cathedral Basilica. The sheer size of the church is impressive, particularly compared to so many of the smaller churches in Pelourinho. The image of Christ the Savior above the transept is the largest wood sculpture in Brazil. Its like much of the carving work in the church, was likely the work of trained slaves; look closely at some of the altars and you'll notice symbols of the Candomblé religion such as small fishtails, a tribute to Yemanjá, the goddess of the sea. Flanking the cathedral is the neoclassical Antiga Faculdade de Medicina, now home to the excellent Afro-Brazilian Museum. Also on the north side of the square is the smaller baroque Igreja São Pedro dos Clerigos. Facing the cathedral at the far end of the terreiro is the Igreja de Ordem Terceiro de São Domingos de Gusmão. On the south side of this church there`s a wide cobblestone street with a tall cross in the middle. This is the Praça Anchieta. The saint on the cross is São Francisco de Xavier, patron saint of Salvador. At the far end of this little praça stand two of the most impressive churches in the city. The large two-towered one on the right is the Igreja de São Francisco; the central element is the surrounding Convento de São Francisco.

DURATION:4 hours

• Transportation
• Guide
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Depart from your hotel to the modern suburb of Barra at the mouth of the Bay with its famous Lighthouse, passing the Santa Maria Fortress and Barra Harbour. Barra is also famous for its popular beach. Then continue to the quiet waters of the Itapagipe where the first holiday residences were built. Fishermen fish from dug out canoes and schooners are at anchor, all protected by the famous Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, one of the most important religious sites in the city. Beloved of both Catholics and Candomblé worshipers, the hilltop church draws huge crowds who come to pray or ask for miracles. The Washing of the Steps, which takes place on the third Thursday in January, is one of the most colorful religious events of the year. Then continue to Forte Monte Serat, which offers fabulous views of Salvador. And the Monserrat district with its thriving market for local artifacts. Optional stop at mercado modelo, located in the Praca Cairu, nestled between the docks and the foot of the Lacerda Elevator in the Lower City. Originally the city's customs house, today this famous market houses a large number of stalls, which sell the region's rich and varied handicraft.

• Transportation
• Guide

IMPORTANT DURING CARNIVAL PERIOD: Tour not available from Sunday to Tuesday.

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The mammoth restoration of the historical Pelourinho district has resulted in a new lease of nightlife to this, the largest complex of colonial architecture in the America's. In Quincas Berro d'Agua, Tereza Batista and Pedro Arcanjo Squares musical groups perform a variety of styles including jazz, blues, bossa nova, "Brazilian Popular Music" (MPB), samba and chorinho. In Jubiaba Square visitors can participate in live rehearsals of local carnival groups such as "Indios and Afros". On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, musicians perform on Pelo street corners. On Sundays it is the kids' turn to enjoy themselves with a variety of activities at Terreiro de Jesus. Every day musicians perform on Pelo street corners. Thousands of street bars make the setting unbelievable. You will be picked up at your hotel and taken to have dinner in one of the many first class restaurants in the area. After dinner you will stroll the busy streets where many of the bars offer live music. Please note: Busiest days are on Tuesdays and weekends.

DURATION: 5 hours

• Transportation

• Guide

• Dinner

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