The city of Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia and was also Brazil's capital unt`il 1763. It is divided into two parts. The "Lower City" is at sea level and contains the old port and the commercial district where visitors will find a complete and varied assortment of Brazilian arts and crafts at the Modelo Market.

A familiar sight at the Modelo Market is the "baiana", usually an older woman dressed in the traditional white, pleated dresses of colonial Bahia who sells coconut sweets and spicy "vatapás", "acarajés" and "xinxins" from a tray that she carries to the market on her head.

The "Lower City" is also the best place to witness a demonstration of "capoeira", a martial art developed by African slaves in Brazil, originally as a form of combat and later as a type of dance and folklore tradition.

Practioners compete to the rhythm of the "berimbaus", a local percussion instrument made with a wire cord streched tight across a wooden bow.
The "Upper City" can be reached by stone steps, alleyways or the famous Lacerda Elevator. This part of the city contains the old government buildings, the residential districts, museums, churches and much of the newer architecture. Points of interest include a 16th-century cathedral (one of the city's many notable churches), two universities, and agricultural institutes. Salvador has a naval base.