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Angra dos Reis is the main hub for boats to Ilha Grande. I got a bus to the town from Rio de Janeiro, walked from the bus station to the docks, and got on a boat to Ilha Grande within a few minutes. That didn’t leave me with much time to see the town, but I was able to at least observe a lot during my 15 minute walk from the bus station.
History
Angra dos Reis was first documented by Europeans on January 6, 1502, when Gaspar de Lemos went ashore, and has been continuously settled since 1556. It was a very important port city until railroads were built in Brazil in 1872.
What to See
It doesn’t seem like there’s much to see, but there are some colonial buildings near the docks. The most important of these buildings are the Monastery of Our Lady of Carmen (Nossa Senhora do Carmo), built in 1593, and the Church of Our Lady of Conception (Nossa Senhora do Conceição), built in 1626. The former can be seen from the docks.
Favelas
The city has a few favelas sprawling over the hills behind it which makes for interesting scenery. Supposedly at one time Angra dos Reis was just as beautiful of a colonial city as Paraty, but the encroachment of the favelas have destroyed most of the historical treasures.
