Deeply and inextricably connected to Rio de Janeiro city historically, culturally, and geographically, Niterói should be on everyone's itinerary while visiting the capital, as it offers new perspectives on the overall region and is home to truly unique and unforgettable landmarks many of which are easily accessible from Rio de Janeiro.

Niterói's coat of arms has three dates engraved upon it: 1573, 1819 and 1835. The fist of these dates refers to the official year of the founding of the city by Araribóia, the Índio chief of the temiminós people who had been brought in to help in by the Portuguese in the war effort against the French. The village, named São Lourenço dos Índios, was installed atop a hill, making a surprise invasion almost impossible. It was the first and only city in Brazil to have been founded by Índios.