Niterói, Metropolitan municipality in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
Niterói is a coastal city in Rio de Janeiro state that spreads along the eastern shore of Guanabara Bay. A wide bridge and ferry connections bring visitors daily from the western shore across the water.
An indigenous leader founded a settlement here in the 16th century that grew over time and served as the state capital from 1835 to 1975. After that period the political center shifted to Rio, but the city remained an important regional hub.
The name comes from a Tupi word meaning hidden water, referring to the many coves along the coast. Today the center is filled with street cafés and small shops where locals meet throughout the day to talk and share meals.
Ferries run regularly across the bay in the morning and offer clear views of the water and surrounding hills. The central streets are wide and mostly flat, making it easy to walk around and find your way.
At one end of the waterfront stands a round building from the 1990s that displays artworks from Brazil and other countries. The structure hovers above the cliff and looks from outside like an open flower cup.
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