Salvador, capital of Bahia, is a city in the Northeast with many contrasts, a city of old and new, a mix of past and present, which mixes old world charm with aspects of modernity. The city was the first capital of Brazil, a role it played between 1549 and 1763. For centuries, the city was one of the main arrival points for African slaves in Brazil. Today, with around 2.9 million inhabitants, Salvador is the fifth most populous city in Brazil. One of the most striking characteristics of Salvador’s culture is its strong connection with African heritage. This legacy is vibrantly reflected in the emergence of diverse musical genres (such as tropicalismo, axé, samba-raggae, bossa-nova), in dance, religion and cuisine in the region. Home to important landmarks in the history of Brazil, the city has the country’s first archdiocese, the Basilica Cathedral, as well as the world’s first urban elevator, the Lacerda Elevator, in addition to the entire historic center of Brazil’s first capital, which is also of a unique architectural importance since the streets of Pelourinho are responsible for preserving rare examples of Portuguese architecture, with many buildings built between the 16th and 19th centuries. Pelourinho was considered a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985.