The Portuguese Real Family came to Brasil to scape from Napoleon`s threat and settled in Rio de Janeiro. Don Pedro the 2nd got so enchanted by this mountainneour region that dead to have a palace built here - what is now the Imperial Musean - the summer resort ofour Emperor a century ago - and invited german, english, italian and portuguese settlers to settle this region.
Nowadays with about 300.000 inhabitants

    

   

Recommend by the Guides Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Michelim (Rio de Janeiro Edition), Petit Fuite, and Frommer's.