All eyes will turn to sultry Rio de Janeiro when it hosts the 2016 Olympic Games, but right now Brazil’s white-hot destination may be the northeastern state of Bahia. With its distinctive African-influenced flavors, cultural diversity, palm-fringed beaches and a new crop of chic hotels, the region is fast emerging as a jet-set playground.
In the village of Trancoso, a hideaway that gets more fashionable by the minute, the Dutch designer Wilbert Das (longtime creative director of the Diesel label) opened Uxua Casa Hotel (www.uxua.com) using recycled materials including old roof tiles and abandoned fishing boats. The hotel’s colorful casas and lush gardens were a canvas for the 2010 Pirelli calendar, shot by the bad-boy photographer Terry Richardson. Speaking of the town’s rising cachet, a luxury Fasano resort — with 30 beachfront villas, a restaurant and a spa — is in the works.
In Salvador, known for its pulsing street carnival a...
The state of Bahia and its capital, Salvad... > MORE
FEATURED CITIES
RIO DE JANEIRO
It is often said that Rio de Janeiro enjoys the world's most beautiful city setting -- between ocean and escarpment. Rio is the iconic city of Brazil and indeed all South America, famous for dramatic and sensual images of nature and a vibrant and creative population. Rio is the world's largest tropical city and one of the most densely populated places on earth. The citizens of Rio are known for their lust for life and love of romance, music and dance. It is hard to find a city where the local populace derives more pleasure form the simplest aspects of living.
Salvador, founded in 1549 by Portuguese sailors, is commonly believed by most Brazilians to be the soul of Brazil. As the first city in Brazil it was to remain the seat of political, administrative and economic power until 1763 when the capital moved to Rio de Janeiro. Salvador was also the source of initial wealth of the colony through its massive sugar cane and tobacco plantations. Evidence of this golden era is to be seen in Salvador’s Pelourinho district, which houses one of the largest and best-preserved complexes of colonial architecture in the Americas.
