As the driver of the early Brazilian slave trade, Bahia is considered to possess the greatest and most distinctive African imprint, in terms of culture and customs, in Brazil. These include the Yoruba-derived religious system of Candomblé, the martial art of capoeira, African-derived music such as samba, afoxé, and axé, and a cuisine with strong links to western Africa.

Vibrant tunes
Bahia is the birthplace of such famous Brazilian musicians as Dorival Caymmi, João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and his sister Maria Bethânia, Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, and Carlinhos Brown, and home to internationally famous groups like Olodum, Ara Ketu, and Ilê Aiyê.

There also are indigenous tribes, such as the Pataxó, who reside on the southern Atlantic coast and in the state's interior.

Geographic diversity
The state's geographical regions comprise the mata atlântica or remnants of the Atlantic coast forests; the recôncavo region pointing inland from the Bay (the largest in Brazil), the site of sugar and tobacco cultivation; and the planalto, which includes the fabled sertão region of Bahia's far interior. Brazil's second longest river system, the São Francisco, runs from the Atlantic along the state's northern border down through the planalto into the neighboring southern state of Minas Gerais.

Places to visit in the state
Important cities and places in the state, include

Salvador
The city of Sao Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos was founded in 1549. But since the first years of the XVI century, after the Portuguese discovered new lands, the place where the urban area was later erected had been known already. It called the attention of sailors in that bay that the place was so favorable for the anchorage of ships.

Ilhéus
Birthplace of one of Brazil's major 20th century writers, Jorge Amado.

Porto Seguro
An excellent option to newcomers longing to know Brazil better is to start from the city where Europeans first arrived to “discover” the country. 

Canavieiras
This city of Bahia has exuberant scenery that combines Atlantic Woods reserves, mangroves, cashew trees and mango trees.

Abrolhos
is a nature-gifted city in the South of Bahia. The Abrolhos Sea National Park was the first sea park created in Brazil, in 1983.

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