Overview

Sejam bem-vindos! The city and community of São Antônio de Pedras. A small rural Brazilian city, originally founded by the Portuguese who colonized Brazil, the city is a mixture of colonial and modern architecture, the most famous of which is the church of São Antônio de Pedras which sit on a hill overlooking the rest of the city. The city is also a mixture of different people, originally populated by native indigenous Indian tribes, African slaves and European settlers. Once a busy port, the main industry of São Antônio de Pedras nowadays is tourism. The city attracts people for other reasons, such as work and leisure. Located near a beach, the almost year-long hot weather makes the city an ideal place for tourism. In the evenings the dock area is usually busy with people who come to enjoy a romantic sunset, eat an evening meal with friends or family, or simply walk about and feel the sea breeze as the sun sets. The people who live there are a mix of liberal and conservative, but respectful of differences. They are also very welcoming to outsiders and very hospitable to visitors. There are three different churches (all Catholic) but there are also churches of other Christian denominations and temples of Afro-Brazilian religions. The area is safe with little crime. However, as with other tourist sites, personal security is encouraged, although the biggest annoyance visitors face is begging in the main square at the center of the city and sometimes in restaurants. There is a regional hospital and the police station is open 24-hours a day.