In paraty from rio de janeiro brazil. Paraty: “Bohemian City” (Brazil). Museum City Open Air
Vila de Nossa Senora dos Remedios de Paraty
(port. Villa de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios de Paraty), short Paraty (port. Paraty) - a small town in the east, which is part of the state of Rio de Janeiro (port. Rio de Janeiro) and in the economic and statistical microregion of Baia da Ilha Grande (port. Microrregião da Baía da Ilha Grande), located on the Atlantic coast, in a picturesque bay (port. Ilha Grande), dotted with tropical islands.The area covers almost 930 km ², the population of the city (about 40 thousand people) is mainly employed in the tourism industry. The climate in this area is humid, tropical.
The nearest airports are: Resende Airport (Rio de Janeiro), serving local and international flights, located 103 km from the center of Paraty; International Airport "Sao Jose dos Campos" (Sao Paulo), located 172 km. from the city center.
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Historical reference
Paraty was founded in the middle of the 17th century, when colonialists from Portugal entered here. Before the Portuguese, Guaianas Indians lived in these parts, in the language of which the word "Paraty" means "Fish River", the name of the town has remained so since then.
Entire expeditions of the Portuguese "Bandeirantes" rushed deep into the mainland in order to capture new slaves. By the way, thanks to these trips, the borders of Brazil have expanded significantly. One of such expeditions in 1695 accidentally stumbled upon rich gold deposits in the state of Minas Gerais in the central part of the Brazilian Highlands. Paraty, located near the excavations, became the 2nd most important port in Brazil, and a gold rush broke out in the only Portuguese colony in South America. From here galleons began to depart to Portugal, loaded to capacity with gold and diamonds. In the first 2 centuries of its existence, Paraty was a thriving port city. Of course, the gold mine could not fail to attract numerous filibusters.
Due to the endless raids of the Indians and pirate attacks, it was decided to move the port to the safer large Rio de Janeiro. After this, Paraty lost his importance, becoming an ordinary provincial town, time here has definitely stood still.
In the middle of the twentieth century. the Brazilians themselves appreciated the charm of the colonial town, the importance of Paraty as a tourist center began to grow, now it is known as the ideal place for a relaxing holiday and the bohemian resort of Brazil. Artists, writers, sculptors, and artists began to gather here to enjoy the historical atmosphere and natural beauties. Very quickly, the town turned into the 2nd largest and most important port. In 1966, it was declared by UNESCO as a historical monument of Portuguese colonial architecture.
Today, brightly tiled houses with colorful facades, narrow streets, paved with large cobblestones and equipped with grooves for the outflow of storm water, have been carefully restored. Locals keep souvenir shops, nice cafes, restaurants, art galleries and small hotels here.
In the evenings, Paraty becomes especially vibrant and vibrant, filled with walking tourists and locals. In boutiques that work until late, and art galleries visitors are always greeted with a smile. On the way, you can have a meal either in a cozy cafe located directly on the street, or in an expensive restaurant - to whom you like and can afford.
sights
Usually the one who first appears in Rio de Janeiro is so impressed by this fantastic city that he forgets everything else. But in vain, because Brazil is not only Rio. Departing from the metropolis 250 km to the west, you can get into a real colonial masterpiece, located in a picturesque bay on the Atlantic coast. On the western coast of the state, between high hills, lush tropical lush evergreen forests and clear blue-green waters of the sea with numerous islands, there is a famous town that attracts with the charm of colonial architecture.
Paraty is the smallest of the colonial cities of Brazil, which has survived in the same form in which it was built in the middle of the XVII century. Time seemed to freeze here, turning it into a kind of open-air museum. Its main attractions are architectural buildings. In the historic center, where vehicles are prohibited, you can plunge into the atmosphere of the past, here are houses and churches built in the XVII-XVIII centuries.
The magical town, surrounded on 3 sides by green mountains, gently descends to the ocean.
To enjoy its beauty, it is necessary to walk on foot all its streets, paved with large cobblestones and equipped with ditches for the outflow of storm water. Tiled houses with brightly painted facades have been carefully restored and now house souvenir shops, cafes, art galleries and hotels.
Initially carefully planned, Paraty is distinguished from other cities by thoughtful rigor, clear contours of buildings and straight streets.
The main temple, in honor of which Paraty received his long official name, is Nossa Senor dos Remedios Cathedral (port. Catedral de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios). Built at the end of the XVIII century. for the urban bourgeoisie, the Cathedral is distinguished by impressive shapes and luxurious decoration. The square in front of the temple, paved with stone blocks, has become a favorite place for walks of citizens. Local rich people built their chic mansions here, having made huge fortunes during the “golden boom”.
The local aristocracy, which kept apart from the nouveau riche, in 1800 built for themselves on the coast a small elegant church das dores (port. Igreja das Dores).
On Rua do Comercio street is the smallest church in the city of Rosario (port. Igreja do Rosario), built in 1725. By the location and forms of the religious building, it is clear that it was intended for the lower stratum of Brazilian society - slaves.
In the southern area is the oldest santa Rita Temple (port. Igreja Santa Rita), built in 1722 for the local mulatto community. The facade of the church is considered the brightest example of Portuguese Baroque.
On a picturesque hill among evergreen trees flaunts Chapel of virgin mary (port. Capela de Nossa Senhora). It has never been restored, perfectly preserved to our times. The chapel resembles an ordinary residential building with a richly decorated facade, built in a traditional Brazilian style. The luxurious decoration of the church remained untouched, giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate the talent of the colonial masters.
There are no high-rise hotels in Paraty; all hotels are located in buildings built in the spirit of old mansions.
There are many cozy cafes and restaurants offering amazing ones. You can enjoy your meal here under the live performance of musicians. In the historical center there are many shops that sell unique antique products.
In the evenings, life is in full swing on city streets, lively incendiary music sounds, singing and dancing do not stop until dawn. After a day on the beach or on an exciting tour, tourists can dine in the restaurant, go shopping, souvenir shops or enjoy coffee with ice cream in one of the coffee shops decorated in a traditional colonial style.
Beaches
In addition to historical attractions, Paraty is famous for its magnificent beaches, islands, lagoons and waterfalls: in the bay there are more than 300 beaches and about 70 islands.
For example, it is very popular. paraty Mirim Beach (port. Praia de Paraty-Mirim) with a length of about 800 and a depth of 0.7 m, with warm clear water, light sand and scattered boulders. The beach is located at the mouth of the river of the same name.
A small beach of Conceisau (port. Praia da Conceição) with a length of about 200 m. With clean fine sand, with warm clear water, surrounded by coconut palms and almond trees. From the beach you can clearly see the island of Ratosh (port. Ratos Ilha - “Rat Island”), a little further is the island of Meros (port. Meros), known for excellent conditions for fishing and diving.
An excellent place for family vacations is the secluded Prain beach (port. Prainha) - small, clean, with surprisingly warm water and a convenient, gentle slope to the sea. For several tens of meters, the water in the sea barely reaches the knees - this makes the beach ideal for bathing young children.
Iririguacu beach with fine dark sand is popular, its warm green water is pleasant for swimming. At the edge of the beach, at the confluence of the Iririguacu River into the sea, there is a small pier, which can be moored by small vessels.
Lula beach (port. Praia de Lula) has a narrow strip of sand and shallow, warm clear water of dark green color. Stone boulders and fragments are scattered throughout the sand strip.
The picturesque Sono beach (port. Praia do Sono), strewn with fine sand, washed by warm emerald water. It stretches for 1370 m and is located in the shade of the surrounding almond trees. In 20 minutes There are several natural freshwater pools filled with mountain rivers on the way from the beach. At the end of Sono, there are two more secluded wild beaches - Antigos and Antiguinhos - which are led by a steep trail, as a result of which they are deserted almost all year round.
Felix Beach is a transparent shallow water suitable for parents with small children. The beach is bordered on both sides by ridges of rocks and boulders, so there are almost no big waves here. The sand on the beach is clean, coarse-grained, which makes the water perfectly transparent. Here you can often see colorful fish frolic in turquoise water, and cute turtles drifting on the surface of warm water or perched on the stones of small bays scattered along the coastline of the beach.
Paraty is a real paradise for diving fans. Professional divers have long appreciated the clear coastal waters of Komprida islands (port. Komprida) and Katinbau (port. Katinbau).
Surroundings of Paraty
At 25 km from Paraty is Trindad (port. Trindade), a small fishing village. Near the village there are 7 beautiful beaches.
8 km from the city there is a picturesque Toboga waterfall (port. Cachoeira Toboga), which is a rock about 10 m high, from where you can jump into the pool created by nature itself. A magical, relaxing atmosphere reigns here - the murmur of falling water and the wonderful chirping of birds.
You can go almost up to the waterfall and enjoy the power of the water stream. Under the waterfall there is a small cave, which you can enter by going through jets of water. And if you climb Toboga, you can admire unforgettable views.
Nearby Serra da Bocaina National Park (port. Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina) - a magnificent reserve, occupying about 105 thousand hectares. In the park, created in 1971, you can see representatives of the exotic flora and fauna of this region. Over 60% of the vegetation of the Park consists of the natural Atlantic forest, the vegetation of which is most diverse. Among the varieties of flora, pine, cedar, palm trees and beautiful bromeliad plants predominate here. Of the fauna representatives in the Park, fallow deer, deer, monkeys and an abundance of all kinds of birds live. The region has a picturesque mountain range, which gives the local landscapes an amazing variety.
Paraty is one of the oldest cities in Brazil, it was founded in 1597, and became a Portuguese colony in 1667. Paraty means "fish river", translated from the language of the local Indians guayanas.
When gold was mined in the Minas Gerais region, Paraty became an important port from which gold was transported first to Rio de Janeiro and then to. The Golden Trail was built specifically for transporting gold - a 1,200-kilometer road connecting Paraty with Diamantina and passing through Oura Preto and Tiradentes. Gold was transported in one direction, and African slaves were transported to the other. Soon, this road was abandoned, because pirates became active in this region, so they began to carry gold straight to Rio de Janeiro.
Now Paraty is a small town that attracts local and foreign tourists not only by its old streets, but also by the opportunity to spend time outdoors: visit neighboring islands and waterfalls, swim in the sea (but not in the city itself), go on a track, and even dive .
About transport, food and housing, see the bottom of the post.
Photo from Paraty
When we arrived, it was cloudy, the sea and the sky was gray. But the city itself is bright. And the boats.
One of the squares with the cathedral.
Bright retro bus :)
Cobbled streets. In heels it is better not to walk on these cobblestones.
There is almost Venice at high tide, just ankle-deep.
Remnants of defense.
Lazy tourists ride in carriages (it is not clear why, because the town is tiny).
Krabiki crawling.
Well, in general, life is like life.
Nice here.
Modern Art.
How to get to Paraty
Paraty can be reached by bus from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo.
How to find cheap flights
To find cheap flights, I usually compare prices with a few aggregators. They all have one and the same principle - they are looking for tickets on the bases of hundreds of airlines, but their bases may differ, therefore the price will be better in one or the other - check everything at once.
- - an unrealistically flexible search, and there is a guarantee of connection, even if you fly with low-cost airlines and the first flight is delayed!
- - The best ticket prices from Russia and Kazakhstan, a convenient calendar of low prices.
- - there are good prices for tickets from Ukraine.
By the way, KIWI give 20 euro coupons for flights to new users, but they can only be received by email. Who needs it - I can send an invitation.
Get 20 € at kiwi.com ➜Low Price Calendar:
Bus tickets better to buy in advance, especially on weekends. Check the current timetables and rates at buscaonibus.com.br.
Buses Rio de Janeiro - Paraty 70 reais, departures from 4 to 21 hours almost every hour, the journey takes 4.5-5 hours .. There is still a Frenchman who rents a room on a yacht for airbnb. It’s a pity that we didn’t get to him.
If you have not registered with Airbnb yet:
Option for extreme people: come to Paraty by night bus from Rio, and leave by night bus to Sao Paulo, or vice versa :)
Paraty is one of Brazil's smallest colonial cities. His story is truly legendary. After all, the city grew on a gold mine. Yellow metal hunters flocked here, drawn by a dream of wealth and power. It seemed that the city was simply doomed to prosperity and grandeur, but everything turned out differently.
Those who find themselves in Rio de Janeiro are usually so impressed by this phantasmagoric city that they completely forget about everything else. But in vain. After all, Brazil is not only Rio. However, like Rio, it is not only Copacabana or Ipanema. But one way or another, breaking away from these world famous beaches, you can find truly amazing things.
For example, three hundred kilometers west of Rio de Janeiro on the Atlantic coast is a real masterpiece - the colonial town of Paraty. More precisely, it is more correct to call this miracle Vila de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios de Paraty, and it is located in the Gulf of Illa Grande, but this does not change the essence of the matter. This town has been preserved in the same form in which it was built in the middle of the XVII century, when the Portuguese colonialists decided to seriously engage in the development of this land. It is believed that Paraty was founded in the region of 1650. Before the white colonizers came here, the Guayana Indians lived in these places. But with them, of course, they did not particularly stand on ceremony.
Very quickly, this town turned into the second largest and most important port in Brazil. This was facilitated by a number of exciting and rather complicated events. The fact is that in 1578 the Portuguese king Sebastian died in the battle with the Moroccans in North Africa and the throne was taken by his closest relative - King of Spain Philip II. The borders on the Iberian Peninsula have been erased. They disappeared in America. Portuguese adventurers rushed inland.
The main goal of the Bandeirantes, that is how the Brazilian pioneers were called, became new slaves, for the capture of which whole expeditions were equipped. Thanks to these trips, the borders of Brazil have greatly expanded. But most importantly, one of such expeditions in 1695 completely accidentally stumbled upon vast gold deposits in the central part of the Brazilian Highlands. In the only Portuguese colony in South America, the gold rush began.
In order to send the mined gold to Portugal, a special port was needed, located near the excavations, most of which were in the state of Minas Gerais. Paraty became that. In the 18th century, this city was the starting point for most of the brave Portuguese captains. It was from here on the direction of the Old World that the galleons sailed to the brim with gold and diamonds. It goes without saying that this goldmine could not fail to attract numerous filibusters, who more than once made impudent raids, attacking the city and trying to capture its gold vaults.
I must say that Paraty was the first major urban development project in Brazil. Prior to this, all settlements in the colony were mainly built as God would put into their hearts. Paraty was originally planned, and therefore differed from other cities in thoughtful rigor, straight streets and clear contours of houses.
Despite the long name Vila de Nossa Senora dos Remedios de Parati, the city was and remains the smallest of all the colonial in Brazil. Nevertheless, it was built according to all the canons of the Portuguese town planning of that time. Traditionally, each of the city churches served a strictly defined sector of this small population. The main temple of the city, by the way, in honor of which he received such a long official name, was Nossa Senora dos Remedios. It was built at the end of the 18th century for the urban bourgeoisie, and therefore is distinguished by special luxury and impressive forms. The square in front of the cathedral was paved with stone blocks and became a favorite place for walks of citizens. Here were located the main mansions of the largest local rich.
The aristocracy preferred to stand apart from the rich, but not worthy nouveau riche. Therefore, in 1800, the Paraty Upper World built for itself a small but exquisite church on the shore - Igreya das Dores.
On the rua do Commercio, there is the smallest church in the town of Igreya do Rosario, built in 1725. It is not difficult to guess from the forms and location of this religious building that it was built for the lower category of Brazilian society - that is, for slaves.
And finally, in the southern part of the city is the oldest church - Igreya de Santa Rita. It was erected in 1722 for the community of free mulattos. The facade of this temple is considered an unsurpassed example of Portuguese Baroque.
It seemed that the city had a bright future and that it would prosper in the future, but its star rolled as unexpectedly as it had ascended. And the thing, in general, is not that the gold in Brazil ran out very quickly. Even earlier, numerous pirate attacks and raids by the Indians forced the colonial authorities to find a safer place to send such valuable goods. The main port of the country gradually became Rio de Janeiro, which, moreover, after a while turned into the capital of the independent Brazilian empire.
Well, in Paraty, life froze. Almost two hundred years have passed since then, but nothing more can disturb the measured existence of this amazing ghost of colonial times. And even the strong storms that happen in these places quite often, and which turn the streets of the city into canals, do not really annoy the locals. The stormy waters carry away all the dirt from the ancient streets into the ocean, and therefore Paraty always remains clean and fresh, as if there were not several centuries of timelessness, and as if a swift galleon was about to enter the next batch of gold.
In these areas, we really began to feel the country. Brazil is so huge and diverse. Here we are faced with lush nature and waterfalls, which are one more beautiful than the other.
The city of Paraty was recommended to us by the Brazilians as a quiet and secluded place, in which the spirit of traditions still lives and there is a touch of nationality. Without even thinking, we went to explore this place, and soon to tell you about it.
Paraty is a small town, which is listed as a UNESCO heritage site. It is located on the ocean, which could not but rejoice, since it was possible to eat seafood in unlimited quantities.
For me, Paraty is a fairy tale city, which, like a casket, has collected all the best in itself. Walking along its cobbled streets brought pleasure and joy to the soul. Many various cafes and restaurants offered tourists delicious national menus and of course coffee, which is very much in Brazil.
The city center is closed for transport, so it is always quiet and calm. There are two beautiful churches in Paraty that are open to the public.
In the evening, the town does not fall asleep, but on the contrary, a hot fiesta begins to the rhythms of samba and foho. Here they dance not only in a disco, but also in bars and just outside.
There are no problems with housing in the city either. We found our apartments through the airbnb website and were the second guests of the hostess. By the way, if you are not using this site yet, I strongly recommend that you register there. If you follow this link, you will receive a bonus of $ 20, which you can spend on your reservation.
Having experience in traveling and in choosing a place of residence, we took a photo session of this place (she had no photos) and gave photos of the hostess for her good development as a hoster on the site for travelers.
There are several interesting places around Paraty that we needed a couple of days to inspect. The first place we visited is Paraty Mirim, where the Brazilian fjords are located - that's what the locals call them.
We got to them in our purchased car in Rio De Janeiro. The area is remote and there were few tourists. Also in this area lives a settlement of Indians, which are radically different in appearance from the Brazilians from this area. Now the Indians are protected by the state.
To get to the fjords and the most beautiful point, from where a view of the entire district opens, you can only by water. After a little bargaining, we rented a boat and went to explore new places for us. It turned out that Sugar Loaf (this is a mountain with a beautiful view of the fjords) is located in a very difficult place. Climbing a steep hill was very difficult. It seems that the height is not great, but it takes a lot of strength. It's good that I had comfortable shoes and a panama hat, without which there is no way to do it.
The view from the sugar head (not to be confused with the sugar head in Rio De Janeiro) was magnificent, as you can see for yourself by watching our video about this place.
On the outskirts of Paraty, there are several more interesting places - these are different waterfalls and waterfall complexes. If you are without transport, you can take a motorbike and drive to the waterfalls for a small cost. It is amazing that literally leaving the city for several minutes you immediately fall into the jungle. The lush vegetation, humidity and a large number of birds are delightful, and here you understand that you are in Brazil.
You can find waterfalls using a map, which you can take in the tourist information center or in any cafe. In a small area there are 3-4 waterfall complexes and they are all different.
We really liked one waterfall called Agua Blanca, which you can ride on a hill. If you are going to this place do not forget to take a swimwear.
On the way to the waterfalls, you must definitely call in the private factory for the production of cashews. Cachasa is a Brazilian liquor made from sugarcane. Remotely resembles vodka, but much softer. At the factory you will have the opportunity to see the production technique, taste different alcoholic drinks and alcoholic ice cream, as well as buy yourself a bottle of something tasty.
About visiting waterfalls and the Kashas factory, we also have a video on our travel channel.
When planning your trip to Brazil, do not miss the town of Paraty, I am sure you will like it very much. I also invite you to our travel channel on YouTube, there are a lot of different videos about Brazil. And we are also on instagram, where you can find us by the hashtag wetravelin and in
Most tourists coming to Brazilare exclusively interested in its big cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao paulo. However, truly paradise beaches and the most interesting places are just between these two megacities.
Approximately 250 km from Rio towards São Paulo on the Atlantic coast, in the Gulf Ilya Grande (Ilha grande), located a small, like a toy town Paraty (Paraty - Brazilians pronounce it as “paracha”, with emphasis on the last syllable). The population of the town is only some 36 thousand people. So it will be difficult to get lost here among the crowd of people in the stone jungle, but this does not mean at all that there is nothing to do in Paraty.
Museum City Open Air
The amazing town has been preserved in the very original form in which it was built in the middle of the 17th century, when colonialists from Portugal came here. Before the Portuguese, Guaianas Indians lived in these places. In their language, the word "paraty" meant "fish river." After the colonization of this region by the Portuguese, the name of the town remained so.
When in 1695 in the state Minas Zhirais (Minas gerais) found gold deposits, Paraty, which was located near the excavations, became the second most important port of Brazil, and a gold rush began in the Portuguese colony. From here, galleons clogged with gold and diamonds to failure began to go to Portugal. And of course, what gold then did without pirates! They have repeatedly committed robberies at the port Paratytrying to loot as much as possible.
Paraty It was built according to all the canons of the Portuguese town planning of that time and became the first serious architectural project in the country, because before that all settlements in Brazil were built by colonizers anyhow. So the city has survived to this day. Paraty recognized UNESCO The most important monument of colonial architecture.
The narrow streets paved with large cobblestones are equipped with ditches for the outflow of storm water.
Sorry, but because of the endless attacks of pirates and raids, the Indians once thriving in Paraty it was decided to transfer the port for sending important goods to a safer Rio de Janeiro. IN Paraty after that time seemed to stop. And now, centuries later, its tiled houses with facades painted in bright colors have been carefully restored by local residents who keep souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants, art galleries and hotels here.
Entertainment
Walking to Rua do Comércio, you will be among the pretty shops. IN Paraty shops are open until 9-10 pm, so you can walk along them even after sunset, when this street, all in the backlight and lights, is especially beautiful. In the evenings Paraty It seems especially vibrant and vibrant, filled with tourists and locals who go shopping or just for a walk. In boutiques and art galleries you will be greeted with a smile and happy to tell you something interesting. Here you can also have a snack along the way, either right on the street, or in a simple but nice cafe, or maybe in an expensive restaurant. IN Paraty there are places for every taste and color. Just don’t wear heels! Although cobblestone streets are very beautiful, walking along them is not easy. Even locals never wear high-heeled shoes on the streets of their town.
If you have not tried it yet acaiit's time to do it in Paraty. Acai - a dark-purple berry growing on a special palm, possessing the most useful properties, including those that protect against cancer and other diseases, and simply give energy and a positive mood! Try this real Brazilian treat - acai ice cream with banana slices, honey, oatmeal or other toppings to choose from. However, if you are on a diet, be careful acai - a very high-calorie product.
Caipirinha
Brazilian national drink is definitely caipirinha (caipirinha), the strength and taste of which gives a special component, kashasa (cachaça) A Paraty, by the way, since colonial times it has been known as the most important region in Brazil for the production of kashasa! Until the mid-20th century, the word “ paraty”Was actually synonymous with the word“ cachasa ”. So not to try kashas here is just a crime. In addition to the classic one, be sure to order caipirinha with berries or fruits: strawberries, lychees, pineapple or kiwi - everything is delicious!
How to get there
Before Paraty can be reached by bus from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo via BR-101. Comfortable buses with air conditioning will take you from Rio to Paraty in about 4 hours, from Sao Paulo in 6 hours. This is not so long compared with the impressions of the atmosphere of colonial Brazil of the 17th century that you get when you come here.
And by the way, Paraty It is popular not only among tourists, but also among directors. The well-known Twilight Breaking Dawn, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, was filmed here in 2010.
