When the Portuguese crown first decided to carry out the
endeavour of colonising Brazil, the first urban area to be
settled in was Salvador, which was established on 29 March 1549.
This is one of the reasons why the coastal city in the country's
north-east was one of the main poles of slave trade in South
America. As a consequence, Salvador grew under deep influence of
Portuguese, Afro-descendents and indigenous alike: a situation
that contributed to the cultural richness that typifies the city
today. The presence of African elements is all around in
Salvador, from the circles of capoeira (a combination of martial
art and dance brought to Brazil by African slaves) at the Modelo
Martket to the beat of the agogôs and atabaques (percussion
instruments) in the rites of the Candomblé - a syncretic
religion conceived in Brazil. Such African heritage has awarded
Salvador with the nickname Roma Negra (Black Rome). Salvador's
privileged topography is one of its most appealing attributes,
with a clear division between