Valença, Bahia
| Valença | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
Municipal hall
|
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 Location in Bahia |
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| Country |
 Brazil
|
| Region | Nordeste |
| State | Bahia |
| Time zone | UTC -3 |
Valença is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Bahia and has an estimated population of 82.000. It is visited by tourists because it is the main access to the island of Ilha de Tinharé, famous for the town of Morro de São Paulo.
The municipality contains part of the 230,296 hectares (569,070 acres) Caminhos Ecológicos da Boa Esperança Environmental Protection Area, created in 2003.
Valença is the largest city in the Dendê Coast (costa do dendê), but it is also a placid 16th century colonial fishing town and a dynamic commercial and service center of the region. Famous for its shrimp, Valença has a quay in the port lined by lovely colonial style 16th century buildings, like the Town Hall, the sobrados, and warehouses. Valença offers rich historical patrimony that lives in harmony with the picturesque boats on the Una River that divides the city. Three bridges link both sides of the city.
Although Valença has been virtually ignored by its government, its people, affordable lodging and land, decent basic infrastructure and proximity to the most beautiful beaches and cities in Bahia (Salvador, Morro de São Paulo, Gamboa, Boipeba, Itaparica, etc.) make it a very worthwhile holiday location.
Valença was the first industrial center in Brazil, with cotton textile mills and other industries. It is also known for its natural resources, including the 15 km of beaches in Guaibim, the Candengo waterfalls, the Ponta do Curral and the Una River with its mangroves.
The city is served by Valença Airport.
The territory in which the municipality of Valença is located, at the time of the discovery of Brazil, was inhabited by peaceful Tupiniquim Indians. When Don João III, King of Portugal divided Brazil in 1534 into huge estates (called, capitanias hereditárias), the area of Valença belonged to the Ilhéus estate under the jurisdiction of Vila de Nossa Senhora do Rosário de Cairu, location where the first populace was established.
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Wikipedia