|
Teresopolis
|
|
|
While
TERESOPOLIS
can be reached directly from Rio by bus, the best route is from Petropolis. It's not a long journey, no more than 40km, but the road to this highest town in the state (872m) passes through the
Serra dos Orgaos
, much of which is a national park - dramatic rock formations here resemble rows of organ pipes (hence the range's name), dominated by the towering
Dedo de Deus
("God's Finger") peak. Teresopolis, like Petropolis, owed its initial development to the opening of a road between Minas Gerais and Rio during the eighteenth century. It, too, was a favoured summer retreat (for Empress Teresa Cristina, for whom the town was named) and though smaller than Petropolis it also shares some of its Germanic characteristics, including a benevolent alpine climate. The town itself is extremely dull, built along one main street which changes its name every couple of blocks, and the interest lies entirely in the surrounding countryside. There are, however, magnificent views from almost anywhere in town - especially from
Soberbo
, where the Rio highway enters Teresopolis, with its panoramic view of Rio and the Baixada Fluminense. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
|
Brazil,
|