Niterói

Port and municipality of the same name of southeast Brazil, on the eastern shore of Guanabara Bay, linked by a 14 km/9-mi bridge (the largest of its type in Brazil) and ferry with Rio de Janeiro on the opposite shore; population (2000) 459,500. It forms part of the municipal area of Rio de Janeiro. An administrative and commercial centre, its industries include ship-repair, manufacture of metal goods, textiles, and fish-processing. Founded in 1573, it was the former administrative capital 1834–1974 of Guanabara state until 1974 when the new state of Rio de Janeiro was formed.

Its churches include Saõ Francisco Xavier (1572) and Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem (1663) located on the island of Ilha de Boa Viagem. The fort, Fortaleza de Santa Cruz, dating from the 16th century and located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, is one of the oldest fortifications in Brazil.