The small coastal village of Parati is a virtual museum within a tropical paradise. It is located 125 miles southeast of Rio and possesses one of the finest "collections" of classical 18th century Portuguese colonial buildings. In the early 1700's Parati was a major gold shipping port. Most of the gold from the inland province of Minas Gerais ( one of the states of Brasil ) was transported over mountains to Parati and then shipped to Portugal. With the advent of the construction of a new road linking central Minas Gerais to the Atlantic coast to where now is the State of Espirito Santo the town quickly went into decline. Today it has become a major international destination for sophisticated tourists seeking sunshine and spectacular beaches all within a classical architectural setting. Automobile traffic is forbidden inside the city in order to preserve the tranquil ambience.