Salvador Castles & palaces, Historical, Peaceful + Religious pictures

• Brazil
• South America
• World

This energetic coastal city has a grandiose old town, superb art museums, pristine beaches and glitzy festivals, which celebrate its Afro-Brazilian roots.

Capoeira dancers amaze passersby and artisans hawk souvenirs at this handsome central square where colonial mansions sit next to centuries-old churches.

In a city blessed with stunning churches this pretty slave-built church, in the heart of Salvador’s UNESCO-protected Historic Center, is one its most interesting.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

Swim in refreshing water, visit an historic lighthouse, try water sports and admire the magnificent sunsets at this popular urban beach.

With gold leaf artwork and decorative azulejo tile murals, the lavishness of this church-convent complex’s décor is in stark contrast to the humbleness of the saint to which the church is dedicated.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

Swim in refreshing water, visit an historic lighthouse, try water sports and admire the magnificent sunsets at this popular urban beach.

With gold leaf artwork and decorative azulejo tile murals, the lavishness of this church-convent complex’s décor is in stark contrast to the humbleness of the saint to which the church is dedicated.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

The soul of Salvador’s Historic Center is a vibrant district of cobblestone streets framed by ancient churches, colonial mansions, museums and cultural centers.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

In a city blessed with stunning churches this pretty slave-built church, in the heart of Salvador’s UNESCO-protected Historic Center, is one its most interesting.

Swim in refreshing water, visit an historic lighthouse, try water sports and admire the magnificent sunsets at this popular urban beach.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

Swim in refreshing water, visit an historic lighthouse, try water sports and admire the magnificent sunsets at this popular urban beach.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

This sea-facing church erected in the 1700s has an austere exterior and a richly decorated interior. It’s also the host of a lively annual festival.

With gold leaf artwork and decorative azulejo tile murals, the lavishness of this church-convent complex’s décor is in stark contrast to the humbleness of the saint to which the church is dedicated.

This energetic coastal city has a grandiose old town, superb art museums, pristine beaches and glitzy festivals, which celebrate its Afro-Brazilian roots.

The soul of Salvador’s Historic Center is a vibrant district of cobblestone streets framed by ancient churches, colonial mansions, museums and cultural centers.

With gold leaf artwork and decorative azulejo tile murals, the lavishness of this church-convent complex’s décor is in stark contrast to the humbleness of the saint to which the church is dedicated.

The soul of Salvador’s Historic Center is a vibrant district of cobblestone streets framed by ancient churches, colonial mansions, museums and cultural centers.