Salvador (2) - a brief history

Salvador da Bahia - Skyline

Salvador was the first brazillian capital, in the times of the colony. In the entrance of a very big bay, called the Bahia de Todos os Santos, the portuguese founded the city and harbor of São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos - or simply Salvador -, in order to export the Pau-Brasil wood, from a tree with a very strong red pigment, used for colouring textiles. 

This red seemed the burning coal, which in portuguese is said brasil; so the colour of this wood gave name to the country. 

Also, sugar cane plantations have remained for very long time as the main economic activity in Brazil, speacially in the northeast region, before the gold rush started in southernmost states. 

The gold rush in Minas Gerais was responsible for the growing importance of the seaport of Rio de Janeiro, what lead the prime-minister Marquês de Pombal (the Marquee of Pombal), in 1763, to move the capital of the portuguese colony from Salvador to Rio de Janeiro (which stayed as capital of Brazil until 1960, when Brasilia was founded).

Nowadays Salvador is most known for the tourism, carnival and for being the capital of the big state of Bahia.

Salvador da Bahia - Skyline

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