One of Brazil's oldest cities, Salvador de Bahia stands at the entrance to Bahia de Todos os Santos on the country's north-east coast. A profusion of pastel-coloured houses adorns this old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic Pelourinho quarter is home to sumptuous churches such as São Francisco and richly decorated palaces such as Rio Branco. Make sure you sample local gourmet specialities like those melt-in-the-mouth coconut sweets, Bahia cocadas. Salvador is a cultural melting pot, as you'll see in the arts and crafts stalls of the Mercado Modelo, a short walk from the waterfront.