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Salvador History, Brazil

Salvador was regarded as the first capital of Brazil and stayed on that stint for 214 years from 1549 to 1763. It is a vital travel and tourism spot in the country which has grown steadily through time. Its historical and cultural heritages are rich with the influences of a lot of occupations.

The First Inhabitants

The Tupinamba natives were tracked to be the first inhabitants of Salvador, Brazil. Their occupancy was however hampered by the coming of the Europeans in January 1500. Most of these settlers came from Spain under the leadership of Vicente Pinzon. Several months later, the Portuguese came in the area.

Portuguese Influence

The makings of a remarkable place such as Salvador were founded basically on the influence of the Portuguese. One notable person during this era was Pedro Cabral who landed on the southern coast of Bahia in 1500. This is the actual spot at which Salvador City is standing right now. The said port was then claimed in favor of Portugal.

With the Portuguese occupation, Salvador was declared a city in 1549. Under the fleet of Tomé de Sousa, the entire city was recognized. It served as the main route for religion and administration which housed the colonizers from the said country. It served the said purpose even after it had to lose its trademark as capital city in 1763.

Abolishment of Slavery

With the Portuguese rule, Salvador City had been an empire for slavery. Slaves came from different portions of the globe particularly in Africa. It was recorded that around 1.3 million people acted as a noble up until 1888 when the trade was abolished. The presence of the millions of Africans was said to greatly influence the culture of the city and the entire country as well.

After Being Brazil’s Capital

From 1549 to 1763, Salvador has enjoyed being the center for trade, religion and administration in the country. After its remarkable undertakings, however, Rio de Janeiro took over its stature. Despite bowing down to its sister city, Salvador continually grew toward the years and is now one of the largest cities in Brazil.

Present Day Salvador

After enjoying its 214 years as Brazil’s capital, Salvador had lived up with cultural heritages of the past. It had embraced music and the arts with international performers and well-loved theaters flanking the area. It also has museums which houses plenty of the traces of its rich history.

Religion, being one of its primary focuses, lead to the ground works of several evidences of this nature. It houses more than 300 churches which are worth for daily visits of locals and favorite spots of travelers as well. Beaches are also well-loved in this beautiful and historical city.

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