The small coastal village of Parati is a virtual museum within a tropical
paradise. It is located 125 miles southeast of
Rio
and possesses one of the finest "collections" of classical 18th century
Portuguese colonial buildings. (
Olinda, a UNESCO World Heritage City,
located near Recife also has a plethora of beautifully preserved
Portuguese and Dutch colonial buildings.) In the early 1700's Parati
was a major gold shipping port. Most of the gold from the inland province of
Minas
Gerais was painstainkingly transported over mountains to Parati and
then shipped to Portugal. With the advent of the construction of a new
road linking central Minas Gerais to the Atlantic coast to where now is
the State of
Espirito Santo the town quickly went into decline. Today it has
become a major international destination for sophisticated tourists seeking
sunshine and
spectacular beaches (including snorkling and scuba) all within a classical
architectural setting. Automobile traffic is forbidden inside the city in
order to preserve the tranquil ambience.
Some of the Sights:
More information
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Parati,
Rio de Janeiro
Landmarks