
If Atlanta is the capital of the new American south,
Salvador da Bahia will be the new capital of a revitalized northeastern
Brazil. The capital of
Bahia will experience facelift after facelift in the coming decade. But let’s hope some of the city’s spectacular
architecture is preserved.
Portuguese colonial architecture in the city’s old center, or
pelourinho, complements a vibe that is more African than Latin; Mannerist architecture graces old cathedrals; neoclassical design soars above this city of almost 4 million people; and even mid-century structures, faded yet tattered, remind us why we love Brazil at so many levels.
It has been over a year since our trip to Salvador for
Carnaval, but the city’s lusty, musty, and yes, often rusty infrastructure still pulls at my heart strings. It may be the capital of a new Brazil, but I hope it still remains the country’s spiritual heart.

View of the port of Salvador

Utility lines dance with a street lamp, Salvador da Bahia

beach in the neighborhood of Barra, Salvador

Facade of customs house, Salvador

Lobby of apartment building, Vitoria, Salvador

Street scene outside Salvador's old center (pelourinho)

Salvador harbor
About The Author
Leon Kaye
Leon Kaye is the founder and editor of GreenGoPost.com and its advisory division,
GGP Media.
Contact him to discuss how he can work with your organization or event.
His focus is making the business case for sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
He writes for San Francisco-based
Triple Pundit,
Inhabitat and now
The Guardian, for which he writes about corporate responsibility, water, and green building. He has also written for AIA's
Architect Magazine.
Leon works out of Fresno and Silicon Valley, California, and when he has free time, he enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, weightlifting, and planning his next trip to one of the 60 countries he has visited. He has an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business and is also a proud graduate of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) and Cal State-Fresno.
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