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.