Paraty, Colonial port municipality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Paraty is a coastal municipality in Rio de Janeiro state, situated between the ocean and forested hills. The historic center consists of whitewashed buildings with colored windows and doors lining cobbled streets open only to pedestrians and bicycles.
The settlement was established in 1597 and grew into an important harbor in the 18th century for shipping gold from Minas Gerais to Portugal. When new railway lines were built, the place lost its commercial role and remained largely unchanged in its colonial form.
The name comes from a local fish found in the area, and buildings often display blue, yellow or red door frames as markers of their original purpose. Artisans sell locally distilled cachaça in small shops along the car-free lanes, and painted boats rest at anchor in the harbor.
Buses run regularly to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and the BR-101 highway allows arrival by private car. The center is flat and easy to walk around, but paths outside toward the hilly surroundings can be steep.
At high tide, seawater flows through narrow channels into the streets of the historic center and washes the stone pavement naturally. This regular flooding was a simple method during colonial times to remove dirt and waste from the lanes.
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