Next Stop: Paraty

Let’s Travel the World's next destination is... Paraty!!! Let’s check out some of the history of this city?!?!

Paraty is a city on the Southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, originating long before the arrival of the Portuguese here is Brazil, being home to the Guaianás indigenous people and soon after to the Tupi dos Tamoios tribe. It served as background to many moments and historical facts in Brazil, from its importance to the Gold Path, the cultivation of sugar cane, the production of brandy, the coffee cycle and the slave trade, until it was rediscovered and became one of the most sought after destinations in the country for tourism.

The city underwent several nominations, from colony to independent settlement, then to village, then being called ‘Vila de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios de Paratii’. And it was only in 1844 when it was given town status, that it was named Paraty.

Its cobblestone streets are known as “Calçamento Pé de Moleque” because they were built asymmetrically, curvilinearly and with different widths at the beginning and at the end. The theory goes that they were built this way as a defensive tactic against invading pirates, with the opposite end not being visible. The city was designed taking into account the level of the tides and as a consequence the streets of the first blocks are regularly flooded. As there was no sewage system, residents threw their debris out the window, making the village dirty and smelly, so the tide would do the heavy lifting, cleaning the first few blocks near the sea.

In addition to all its historical facts, Paraty is also well known for the artesanal production of its cachaças (a type of spirit produced in Brazil), which follow the recipes of its ancestors, creating a local identity, so the word ‘paraty’ itself came to be used as synonym for cachaça. In this way, the city is conquering the palates of tourists with its typical and unique taste.

In 2019, Paraty was considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its mix of historical and natural attractions, such as its quilombos, its colonial architecture and its preservation of the Atlantic Forest.