Salvador de Bahia (Brazil)

Salvador de Bahia (aka Sao Salvador) is a major port city and the capital of Brazil's Bahia state. The city has population around 2,9, ranking it Brazil's 3rd-largest - following Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The city's metro area is approx 693 km2 (268 ml2).

Salvador de Bahia was established by the Portuguese in 1549 as Brazil's first capital. It is among the oldest colonial cities located in the Americas. By 85 m (279 ft), a sharp escarpment divides Salvador's Cidade Baixa (Lower Town) from its Cidade Alta (Upper Town). The first elevator in Brazil, Elevador Lacerda, has connected both since 1873. Upper town's Pelourinho district, still home to a lot of examples of Portuguese historical monuments and colonial architecture, was named by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1985. City's cathedral is the see of Brazil's primate and its Carnival celebration was reckoned as the world's largest party. Salvador was the Americas' first slave port and the African influence of slaves' descendants makes it the center of Afro-Brazilian culture. 

The city of Salvador is noted for its architecture, cuisine and music. Porto da Barra Beach in Barra was named one of the world's best beaches. In 2014 Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova was the site of city's games during the Brazilian World Cup.

Salvador de Bahia forms the heart of Reconcavo, a rich industrial and agricultural maritime district in Bahia, and continues to be a major port in Brazil. Its metropolitan area housed 3,953,290 people in 2015 and forms the wealthiest in country's Northeast Region.