Feira de Santana (; Portuguese for "Saint Anne's Fair") is a city in Bahia, Brazil. It is the second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 619,609 according to IBGE's estimate in 2020. It is located 100 km northwest of Salvador, Bahia's capital city. These cities are connected by BR-324, a four-lane divided highway. Name Feira de Santana, formerly spelled Feira de Santa Anna, is named in honor of the cattle fairs held at the St-Anne-of-the-Fountains Plantation () in the 19th century. History The St-Anne-of-the-Fountains Plantation was established in the 18th century by Domingos Barbosa de Araujo and his wife Anna Brandoa. Located at the edge of Bahia's "backcountry" (), it became a center for the cowboys on their way from the pastures there to the port of Cachoeira. The cowboys' practice of starting annual fires to clear old brush eventually worsened the area's natural aridity to the point where the cattle industry collapsed, but by then Brazilians and foreigners had begun adopting the area as their home. A city began to develop with wide streets which were bordered by commercial houses serving the area's growing population. It was incorporated as the second city in Bahia after the capital and the 31st in the entirety of colonial Brazil. Today, Feira de Santana remains the second largest city in Bahia and an important stopping point for travelers. Culture Feira de Santana is famous for its parties and festivals, particularly St Anne's Day () in the last week of July, which features activities such as bumba-meu-boi, segura-a-véia, and burrinha. The Micareta carnival party is held 15 days after Passover; the Festival of Violeiros in September; and the donkey race in November. The city boasts of several interesting tourist destinations including a market for local artists, a museum of contemporary art, and the Antares Astronomical Observatory. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Feira de Santana. Historic structures Feira de Santana is home to numerous historic structures, many designated as Brazilian federal or Bahian state monuments. The Historic Center as a whole lacks national or state protection. Church of Our Lady of Remedies (Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios) St. Ann Cathedral (Catedral de Santana) Bandstand at Bernardino Bahia Square (Coreto da Praça Bernardino Bahia) Bandstand at Praça da Matriz (Coreto da Praça da Matriz) Bandstand at Praça Fróes da Motta (Coreto da Praça Fróes da Motta)