Salvador is one of Brazil’s richest cultural hotspots. With its huge street carnival, countless outdoor festivals and a population that is known for its relaxed, easygoing demeanor, Salvador is often called Brazil’s Capital of Happiness. It’s Brazil’s third largest city and capital of the northeastern state of Bahia. Salvador is one of the oldest cities in the New World; the Portuguese saw the location’s potential as a port and trading center, so they placed their first colonial capital here on the shores of the Bay of All Saints.Salvador is built on a peninsula that separates the bay from the vast Atlantic Ocean. A towering cliff runs along the bay, dividing the city into two distinct areas. Cidade Baixa is found on the lower level; the newer parts of the city and much of Salvador’s comme