African religions came to Salvador in the
memory of Yoruba and Nago slaves who
practiced their rituals in isolated areas far from the city. These sites, called terreiros. During the slavery period, and extending many years after abolition, terreiros were raided by the police who feared their leadership. In recent times, not only have the terreiros achieved wides-pread respect, they also serve as a spiritual point of reference for followers of various religions.
Headed either by a woman, called a lalorixá, or a man called a Babalorixá, the Candomblé temples can be visited either by appointment or on days of public festivities.