Niterói sits in Guanabara Bay just across from Rio de Janeiro, with a distance of about 7 miles between the two, with a bridge connecting the cities. Niterói, or rather, the land which Niterói now occupies, was originally called Săo Lourenço dos Índios when it was first settled in 1573 by Araribóia, a Tupi-Guarani chief - it is the only Brazilian city to have been established by an indigenous leader.
Niterói is one of the most important regions in Rio de Janeiro state's history, with a profusely rich and significant past. Today, it is the fifth largest city in the state, divided into 52 neighborhoods, with a population of around 500,000.
It is the city with one of the highest qualities of life in Brazil, and has the highest income per capita and the highest literacy rate in the state. It also teems with fascinating museums, historical monuments and lush green expanses for exploration.
