Along the Costa Verde, where the mountains kiss the sea you will find the port town of Angra dos Reis. Angra dos Reis was founded in 1556, when a colonial settlement was build.
In the 17th and 18th century Angra was the second most important port of Brazil. The gold, and later on the coffee, made the place flourish but with the displacement of cultivation to São Paulo, Angra declined from the 19th century and now actually lives almost exclusively from tourism.
Even though the city of Angra has little for the tourist to see, it is its atmosphere that attracts the visitor. In the 16th century the Jesuits and other religious orders constructed chapels and convents that can still be found in the centre of Angra dos Reis, such as the Nossa Senhora do Carmo and the São Bernardino de Sena.
The main reason to come to Angra dos Reis is to visit one of the many islands in the bay, like Ilha Grande, or nearby beaches, like Praia Grande.