Salvador may be considered a complete city. Besides from an infrastructure built to accommodate its inhabitants as well as tourists from all over, Bahia´s capital offers entertainment options for all tastes.

Salvador's Historic Center is being restored, the beaches are being cleaned, the streets are filled with light and the squares well kept. Another important care of the local administration has been to reinforce security. Nowadays, any one deciding to walk around Salvador's Historic Center, for example, will find policemen everywhere, guaranteeing security and tranquility for those who want to have fun.

Salvador is a treat for those who appreciate beautiful handicrafts. Among the materials most widely used by local artisans are wood, metal, stones, leather, clay, shells and cotton. The beautiful lace bobbin from Maré Island, in All Saint's Bay, is also sought after by natives and tourists. In the city, one can find a wide variety of artifacts in the Historic Center and also in Modelo Market, the largest folk art center of Bahia´s capital.

Whoever likes nature can also visit numerous parks in Bahia´s capital. In the City Park, there is a track for visitors to walk inside the tropical rainforest. The jungle can also be admired in São Bartolomeu Park, which has natural reserves and little waterfalls.

The parks of Abaeté and Pituaçu are also important examples of preservation of the ecosystem and valorization of the native fauna, flora and landscape. With 425 hectares (the largest green area in open to the public in Salvador) and a rainforest belt, the Metropolitan Park of Pituaçu offers an excellent infrastructure for leisure: it has a 200,000 square meter lagoon where one can ride pedal-boats, a bicycle track of 18 km and a playground. In order to complete the infrastructure, there is a special security system, provided by the Environment Protection Police.

The Abaeté Park, occupying an area of 400 hectares, is another important center of ecological leisure activities, providing a series of natural and cultural attractions. The Abaeté Lagoon is an attraction by itself: visitors can walk around the white and fine sand dunes and get together in the many local bars and restaurants. In Abaeté Park there is also the House of Music, where the documents telling the history of the music in Bahia have been gathered.

The Costa Azul Park is located in front of the sea, next to Jardim de Alá (Garden of Allah). Its 55,000 square meters are devoted to sports, culture and leisure. The visitor enjoys a large infrastructure, with sports courts, equipment for physical exercises, playgrounds with bicycle parking spaces, bicycle tracks, jogging tracks, large sidewalks, an open-air amphitheater with the capacity to hold 600 people and restaurants.

Another park filled with leisure options is Tororó's Ditch. The ditch is an artificial lagoon built in the 17^th century by slaves with shovels and picks, under the command of the Dutch invaders, who intended to surround the Rio Branco Palace with a moat that would make it inaccessible to the Portuguese. Now totally devoid of pollution, the ditch offers options of sports, leisure and culture. It has an open air theater, community spaces, places for rowing, decks for fishing and piers for small boats. It also has restaurants, a square with a floating stage where different events take place, playgrounds and a track for joggers.

For those who appreciate modern sculpture, the Sculpture Park in Bahia's Modern Art Museum is a great entertainment option. From it, there is also a wonderful view of All Saint's Bay. Designed to house cultural and entertainment activities, the park displays 21 signed pieces by the most important internationally recognized local artists, such as Carybé, Mário Cravo, Carlos Bastos, Calasans Neto, Rubem Valentim and Tati Moreno, among others.

It is also worthwhile to plan a tour on All Saint's Bay itself, with its waters extending for more than 100 km and more than 35 islands. Besides from its grandeur and beauty, the bay is used for practicing nautical sports, such as sailing. Its waters guarantee agreeable moments and it is possible to get to know other historic cities in the neighboring areas, such as Itaparica Island, Maré Island, Frades Island and the Ponta de Nossa Senhora beach.

Those who look for beautiful landscapes do not tire from visiting the beaches of Salvador. In the Lower City, the beaches are bathed by the waters of All Saint's Bay. The Ribeira beach, from which one can see hundreds of different boats, is the one preferred by sailors. On the other hand Boa Viagem beach offers a beautiful view of the city.

In the High City, the beach of Porto da Barra, with calm and deep waters flanked by two 17^th century fortresses, is the only one bathed by All Saint's Bay. From Farol da Barra beach until Flamengo, the Atlantic Ocean contemplates the visitors with very high spirits. The beach of Ondina has a natural pool and Rio Vermelho serves as a port for fishing boats. Amaralina and Pituba always entertain many bathers. On the other hand the beaches of Armação, Boca do Rio, Pituaçu and Piatã serve for bathing as well as surfing. The famous Itapuã is known for its beauty and high spirits.

To go up to High City, the visitor will use the largest public elevator in Brazil, the Lacerda elevator, and from there he will contemplate the unforgettable view of the huge All Saint's Bay and its hundreds of boats inviting him to numerous sea rides, São Marcelo fortress, round, in the middle of the sea, the Modelo Market, colonial houses and the buildings of the old Commerce.

For divers, the capital has more than forty spots for diving, offering different options such as shipwrecks, coral, fish, night dives, and many others. The diversity of the sea life in the calm, warm, transparent waters of the Bay is an attraction by itself.

In order to enjoy the hot days, common in the capital of Bahia, there are public and private water parks such as Costa Azul and Wet'n Wild. But, in Salvador, even the food may be considered an attraction. Just like the diverse roots of its people, the recipes from Bahia come from the miscegenation. Indian, Portuguese and African influences gave birth to an exotic and very tasty cuisine.

Colorful, spicy and aphrodisiac dishes may be found in restaurants and in the trays of Bahian women that stand in every street corner - particularly in the Historic Center - selling delicacies from the local cuisine. The condiments used are quite strong, such as red palm oil (dendê oil). Among the most important dishes are abará, vatapá, caruru, maniçoba, sarapatel, feijoada, efó, etc. Last but not least, if you go to Salvador, do not forget to try acarajé, which may be eaten hot (with pepper) or cold (without pepper).

The city does not let down those who like the nightlife. Shows, musicals, theaters, cinemas, night clubs, little bars, restaurants and even rides on the sea around All Saint's Bay are part of the lively nightlife of Bahia's capital.

Apart from all this, whoever goes to Pelourinho at night is sure to have fun. Some squares - such as Quincas Berro D'Água and Tereza Batista - concentrate little bars and live music. Groups of Bahian music, such as Olodum, also hold open rehearsals in these places, as well as on the streets of Pelourinho. There are dozens of bars along the sea coast, where a lively public stays until dawn. Famous theaters, such as Gregório de Matos and Castro Alves, have daily programs, as well as all of the city's movie theaters.