Liberdade is the second most populous district of

Salvador Salvador, meaning "salvation" (or "saviour") in Catalan, Spanish, and Portuguese may refer to: * Salvador (name) Arts, entertainment, and media Music *Salvador (band), a Christian band that plays both English and Spanish music ** ''Salvador'' ( ...

, exceeded only by

Cajazeiras Cajazeiras is a municipality in the state of Paraíba in the Northeast Region of Brazil. It has a population of 62,289 as of 2020. Transportation The city is served by Pedro Vieira Moreira Airport. See also *List of municipalities in Paraíb ...

. It is a center for Afro-Brazilian cultural institutions such as the

Ilê Aiyê Ilê Aiyê is a carnival block from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. It is located in the Curuzu/ Liberdade neighborhood, the largest afro-descendent population area of Salvador. The name stems from the Yoruba language: Ilé - home; Ayé - life; which ...

carnival block as well as the Carneiro Ribeiro Education Center.

Geography

Liberdade is located on the western side of the city on top of the plateau that divides the lower City ("Cidade Baixa") from the higher city ("Cidade Alta"). It is a short distance away from the port at Água de Meninos, the Feira de São Joaquim market and the ferry terminal, which provides daily service to

Itaparica Island Itaparica is an island located at the entrance of Todos os Santos Bay on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It is located about from the city of Salvador, Bahia and covers . There are two municipalities on the islan ...

. An incline railway, Plano Inclinado Liberdade-Calçada, connects the community with its neighbor

Calçada Portuguese pavement, known in Portuguese as or simply (or in Brazil), is a traditional-style pavement used for many pedestrian areas in Portugal. It consists of small pieces of stone arranged in a pattern or image, like a mosaic. It can also ...

and the rest of the lower city.

History

During the colonial era, a road that joined the backwoods of Bahia to the capital in Salvador. The road would become the main route for which cattle, largely bred in the interior - were marketed and transported to the port of Salvador. When the Brazilians won the war of independence against the Portuguese in Bahia, the victorious troops marched through what is now Liberdade and the old road was renamed 'Liberdade', meaning freedom in Portuguese.

Culture

Liberdade is densely populated with lower income residents and has a strong community life within itself, making it feel like a large city within the wider metropolis of Salvador. The neighborhood has one the highest population of Afro-Brazilian residents in Bahia, and by extension Brazil. Historically, it was often said to be the neighborhood with the most Black people in Brazil, though this title has been given to nearby Pernambués. It is a bustling neighborhood, where there are always parties, particularly during Carnival. The Cultural Association

is based in Liberdade on Rua Direta do Curuzu. Ilê Aiyê is a

Carnival block Carnival blocks, carnaval blocos or blocos de rua are street bands that mobilize crowds on the streets and are the main popular expression of Brazilian Carnival. These parades fall under the term "street carnival", and happen during a period of ab ...

celebrating its African roots that cultivates and performs social work that seeks to improve the self-esteem of black people through music and promotion of African cultures and history. Close to Liberdade is the Carneiro Ribeiro Education Center, named after the famous Afro-Brazilian linguist and physician. Arguably one of the largest and most pioneering educational initiatives in Brazil, it was founded by educator Anisio Teixeira and inspired the creation of Integrated Public Education Centers ( CIEP) and Integrated Child Support Centers ( CIAC).

References

External links

Portal of the neighborhood
Afro-Brazilian culture Neighbourhoods in Salvador, Bahia {{bahia-geo-stub