Parati Attractions

In the center of the town the roughly cobbled streets of the colonial period are lined by handsome buildings with windows of cut glass and wooden screens. In Rua do Rosário (or Rua Dr Samuel Costa), near Rua do Comércio, is the Câmara Municipal (Town Hall). In Praça Macedo Soares is the Chafariz de Mármore (Marble Fountain) of 1850.

Islands

Off the coast at Parati are over 40 islands, many of them with completely unspoiled beaches. This island world can be explored on hired saveiros or other types of boat.

Rua Nova da Praia and Rua da Matriz bound the spacious Praça da Matriz, on which is the unfinished church of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios (1789-1873). The church contains a collection of pictures, including works by Anita Malfati. The Festa de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, in which the whole population of Parati takes part, is celebrated here on September 8th.

1km/.7mi from the town center in Vila Velha is the Forte Defensor Perpétuo ("Perpetual Defender"), built in 1703 and rebuilt in 1822, with cannon dating from the time of its foundation and a powder magazine.

Rua da Matriz leads to Largo de Santa Rita, with the church of Santa Rita (1722), in which there are frequent choral concerts. Adjoining the church is the Museu de Arte Sacra.

Araújo

Cedro

Among the most attractive of the islands are Araújo (near Corumbé) and Cedro, to the north of the town and, to the south, the Ilha do Algodão ("Cotton Island"), near the Parati-Mirim and Mamanguá beaches.

In addition to the Festa do Divino (May/June) and other religious festivals there are musical festivals in Parati throughout the year, offering not only classical music but also jazz and Brazilian folk music. In August there are an exhibition of folk art, a street theatre festival and the Festival da Pinga e Produtos de Parati, when pinga, the local sugar-cane brandy, and other typical products of the region are offered for sale in rich variety.

The Forte Defensor Perpétuo now houses the Museu de Arte e Tradiáões Populares (Museum of Folk Art and Traditions).

In Rua da Cadeia, a cross street off Rua da Praia, which also runs past Praça da Matriz, is the Museu Histórico-Naval, which displays miniature models of old ships and archaeological finds.

From the mouth of the Rio Perequà-Aáu Rua Fresca runs along the coast to the harbor quays. It is paralleled by Rua da Praia (Rua Dr Pereira), with the church of Nossa Senhora das Dores (1800), and Rua Nova da Praia.

The church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário (1725) stands on Largo do Rosário, near Rua do Rosário, a cross street off Rua da Praia, and Rua do Comércio.

Cachoeira de Bananal

10km/6mi from Parati on the Cunha road are the Bananal Falls and the Igreja da Penha, built on a crag.

Engenho da Murycana

6km/4mi from Parati on the Cunha road is the Engenho da Murycana (Fazenda Bananal), a farm of the colonial period. The house displays 18th century furniture and utensils. On the estate are a lake, a children's playground, a mini-zoo and a restaurant.