Juiz de Fora

Juiz de Fora is a city in the southeast Minas Gerais, Brazil. It had 456,796 inhabitants according to the 2000 census and an area of 1,424 sq km.

Related Topics:
Minas Gerais - Brazil

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Often referred to only as "JF", this traditional city is located in the Paraíba do Sul basin, on the edge of the Mantiqueira Hills. It grows faster northwards, where are located the industries and roads that connect the city with Belo Horizonte, the state's capital. The city's most remarkable characteristic is the weather, usually cooler and rainier than the surroundings.

Related Topics:
Paraíba do Sul - Belo Horizonte

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Juiz de Fora is the second most important industrial center of the state, despite being only the fourth largest city in population, after being the biggest city of the state at the beginning of the 20th century and holding the second position until the 1990's. There are important metallurgic and automotive factories (Mercedes-Benz the most famous one) installed in the city and several textile factories.

Related Topics:
20th century - 1990's - Mercedes-Benz

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The city is also an important commercial center with a considerable influence area and is considered the capital of Zona da Mata region. It has three shopping centers, several hyper-marts and miriad small shops, selling especially clothes at reasonable prices and attracting customers from two hundred kilometers far.

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The massive presence of immigrants - especially from Italy, Germany, Syria and Lebanon - throughout its history gave the city a surprising cosmopolitan spirit and a very diverse cuisine. Walking down its Avenida Rio Branco (a broad and straight avenue several kilometers long) one can find typical German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and Indian restaurants, as well as Brazilian typical and vegetarian ones.

Related Topics:
Italy - Germany - Syria - Lebanon

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Juiz de Fora is an important regional cultural center, being the only town in the south-east Minas Gerais (one of the few in the interior of the state) to have permanently-functional cinemas, theatres, music venues and light entertainment. There is also an important museum (Museu Mariano Procópio) and a Philharmony Orchestra (Orquestra Filarmônica Pró-Musica). The city also hosts a yearly classical music festival, the Festival Internacional de Música Brasileira Colonial e Música Antiga (International Festival of Brazilian Colonial Music and Archaic Music. Home of the "Meninos Cantores da Academia"the Second Oldest Choir in his category in Brazil. Cultural life is also boosted by a Federal University and several private-owned colleges; making it a common destination for students. Some of the courses at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora are reputed among the best in Brazil.

Related Topics:
Museu Mariano Procópio - "Meninos Cantores da Academia" - Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

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Important roads:

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• BR-040, linking JF to north-south cities in the middle part of the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, such as Belo Horizonte, Congonhas, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Barbacena, Santos Dumont, Sete Lagoas, Três Rios, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.
• BR-267, linking JF to east-west cities in the southern part of Minas Gerais, such as Leopoldina, Bicas, Lima Duarte, Bom Jardim de Minas and Caxambu.

Important railroads:

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• MRS-Logística.
 
Juiz de Fora: History ►