Capoeira

You can see capoeira, a type of martial art popular in Brazil, in almost any beach or park in Salvador and Bahia. Some places are traditional gathering points for practitioners. One such place is the parking lot of Forte de Santo Antônio on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday early evenings. Two schools practice here, of which the Grupo de Capoeira Angola is the best known.

Bimba's Academy. There are several capoeira schools in Salvador for anyone who wants to learn the art that trains both the mind and body for combat. Mestre Bamba (Rubens Costa Silva) teaches at Bimba's Academy, located in the heart of the Pelourinho. Classes run Monday to Saturday for adults and children, and on Tuesday and Friday evenings, you can pay to watch the school's best practicioners perform. Rua das Laranjeiras 01, Pelourinho, Salvador, Bahia, 40025–230. 071/3322–0639; www.capoeiramestrebimba.com.br.