The city of Itajubá stands in the southeastern Brazilian State of Minas Gerais. It's almost midway between the major metropolitan areas of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and about 13 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors who hire a car in Itajubá will soon find that the city stands at the junction of important regional main roads. On the banks of the River Sapucai and is surrounded by the Serra da Mantiqueira range of mountains. The mountains rise to over 9,ft at some points and are popular with Brazilian outdoor adventure seekers. Touring the area you'll find pretty old villages and market towns in the foothills, like Wenceslau Braz and Maria da Fe.
The university city of Itajubá is a mix of culture and industry - there's a large weapons factory but it is also known for its choirs. If you hire a car here it's easy to tour the sights of the city. The highlights include the Museum of Brazilian army history with emphasis on Itajubá's own arms-making role. There's also the Theodomiro Santiago Museum, which in contrast focuses on local history with a slant towards the university. Perhaps the best of the bunch for a visitor is the Municipal Museum. This looks at the history and heritage of the town itself.
