São Gonçalo

São Gonçalo is a large city in Rio de Janeiro state that spreads along the eastern coast of Guanabara Bay, connecting residential and commercial districts. Its densely built streets run inland from the waterfront toward hills lined with smaller homes and local markets.

Tupinambá groups lived here until Jesuit missionaries arrived in the late 16th century, founding a mission and later a chapel. The region grew rapidly in the 20th century as factories drew workers from other parts of Brazil.

The name honors a 13th-century Portuguese saint whose devotion the Jesuits brought to the region. His image now appears in several churches and public buildings across the city.

Visitors moving through the city can rely on buses or cars, as neighborhoods are spread across a wide area. Main roads lead toward Niterói and onward to Rio, while local routes link residential zones together.

During World War II, so many textile factories opened here that locals compared the city to the English industrial hub. That nickname remains today, even though most of those factories have since closed.

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Inception: September 22, 1890

Elevation above the sea: 19 m

Shares border with: Niterói, Itaboraí, Maricá

Website: http://saogoncalo.rj.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -22.82694,-43.05389

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:00