In Brazil, Itaparica Island in the All Saints Bay
In Brazil - Itaparica The island Itaparica is located in the largest and fairest bay along the Brazilian coast, All Saints Bay in the state of Bahia. It amazes visitors because of the large number of tropical islands with enchanting beaches and lush vegetation; great historical treasures dot the landscape: churches, forts, beautiful colonial mansions and plantation houses from the times when Brazil was still under Portuguese rule. The bay was once the largest seaport in the southern hemisphere. In Brazil Covering no less than 1,052 km2 the bay holds 56 islands. Many rivers and streams flow into it, the main ones being the Paraguacu and the Subae. Salvador, the first capital of Brazil and the largest city in the Northeastern region lies along its rim, along with eleven other municipalities. The bay of Brazil was discovered November 1st, 1501 by Americo Vespucci. It was named after that day, it was All Saints' Day. Over almost 500 years, All Saints Bay has seen the major events of Brazil's history, including the arrival of the first governor-general, Tome de Souza, to found the city of Salvador in 1549; the English invasion in 1587 and incursions by the Dutch in 1600, 1622 and 1624; the arrival of the Portuguese royal family in 1808; the war for Bahia's independence in 1822 and 1823. More recently, the Queen of England anchored her yacht in the bay, right next to Sao Marcelo Fort, known as the Sea Fort.
Until the introduction of the auto ferry in 1974, isolated fishing villages lined the white beaches of Itaparica, lush with thousands of coconut palms. Now vacation homes occupy the stretches of beach between the fishing villages. The interior of the narrow island continues to be primarily uninhabited, as does the side of the island where the beach gives way to mangrove forests. Before roads leading to the beaches north of Savador (coconut coast) were built, the wealthy from Salvador would maintain vacation retreats here. The Club Mediterannee is located on the island of Itaparica.
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