BALE FOLCLORICO DA BAHIA

The Bale Folclorico da Bahia is a professional folkloric dance company performing in a small theater in Pelourinho. The one-hour show gives an insight into the folklore of Brazil which combines culture brought by the Portuguese, the African slaves and amalgamated with the indigenous population.

You will be sitting on wooden steps with air conditioning running at full speed. The show starts a bit slow but gets better and better as it progresses. The culmination of course are the ten minutes of Caporeira at the end.

The show starts at 8 PM. You can get the tickets about an hour before the show and then pass the time in one of the many bars in the area.

MERCADO MODELO

Mercado Modelo is an indoor artisan market and very touristy but still worth a visit. Late morning and after lunch you could be lucky to come across some Capoeira street performance.

Elevador Lacerda

ELEVADOR LACERDA

I guess a ride in this elevator is part of any visit to Salvador. It runs every few minutes so if you miss one you will not be waiting for long. The ride costs less than a EURO. It is convenient to have some local coins to pay for your ticket.

BASILICA SANTUARIO SENHOR DO BONFIM

It is worth planning to be in town on the second Thursday after Three Kings Day (January 6) as you can witness the most important religious celebration of the year. After mass in the Church of Conceição da Praia down town, you can follow the large procession of people including the white dressed Bahianas the 8 km to the Basilica. Here the Bahianas wash the steps of the Basilica with aromatized water while dancing and singing in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa. A large number of believers make the trip every year. The celebration lasts ten days.

In a little room adjacent to the church you will find the replica of various ailing body parts of believers.

Salvador, Brazil
Basilica Santuario Senhos do Bonfim

WANDERING AROUND PELOURINHO AFTER DARK

It is alright to wander around Pelourinho at night as long as you stay on streets that are well-lit and well-guarded by the police.  The area has quite a number of bars and hangout places.

The Largo Terreiro de Jesus in front of the Catedral Basilica de Sao Salvador also has a number of street restaurants and the O’Coliseu, another place where you watch a show. Dinner is included here.

Catedral Basilica de Sao Salvador
Barber shop in Pelourinho

I have published three posts on Salvador. One general one on visiting Salvador, one on the typical Salvadorian food, and one on things that you should do when in the area.